Prosecutor Arne Fors is demanding five years in prison for the former chief financial officer of Region Västerbotten who is charged in an extensive bribery case. The trial, which has lasted 21 days, is now in closing arguments.
According to the indictment, the finance chief is alleged to have received bribes from individuals to invest Region Västerbotten's pension funds in their financial products. The five individuals involved are also charged with defrauding the region of nearly 20 million kronor in fund rebates.
The finance chief is suspected of having received bribes of 9.6 million kronor from a company that the region purchased securities from.
"I believe the evidence is strong," says prosecutor Arne Fors, pointing to agreements between the finance chief and his co-defendants as proof of bribes in exchange for investments in financial products.
The indicted finance chief denies wrongdoing and claims that the region was aware of his side business. "I had personal gains in my company and therefore it was important to tell my manager," he has previously said in court.
The bribery scandal has shaken Region Västerbotten and raised questions about internal controls and management of the region's financial assets. The case has received national attention as one of the larger bribery cases in the public sector in recent years.