Several centrally placed individuals in a tax-funded operation in Malmö, aimed at preventing the city’s immigrant youth from being absorbed into the escalating gang criminal environment, are accused of extensive corruption. The operation was transformed through infiltration into its opposite – a part of organized crime where, among other things, taxpayers’ project funds ended up in the pockets of criminals.

The much talked about Malmö, known for its multicultural demographics, has for a long time seen the serious immigration-related organized crime grow, with shootings and bombings as the criminal gangs war against each other. During December, a series of bombings have been reported in the city, and according to the police, the level of conflict between the criminal immigrant networks in Malmö is high.

At the same time, the gangs have more systematically than before begun to exploit legislation that makes minors more or less immune to punishment even for extremely serious crimes. In just the past few months, more than 20 underage teenagers have been arrested in Malmö, suspected of carrying out or being in the process of carrying out bombings, shootings, and arson.

The police are reported to be working tirelessly but still facing an uneven battle against the growing serious gang crime. Alongside the regular police work, the social-democratic-led city, despite a budget deficit of around one billion kronor per year, runs several operations aimed at reversing gang criminals or catching the youngest prospective criminals who are attracted to the gangs by the glorified portrayal of life as a criminal in rap music.

The operations, such as “Sluta skjut“ (Stop Shooting), where criminals are offered pizza and, as the project name suggests, encouraged to stop shooting each other, have been marred by a series of scandals. Among other things, the invited criminals, instead of heeding the calls, have used the pizza evenings to make contacts and plan new crimes.

New scandal unfolds

Now a new scandal is unfolding in a similar tax-funded project, where the city of Malmö aims to reach out to children and young people in the immigrant-dominated “vulnerable” residential areas to try to persuade them to choose a different path in life than the gang criminal one. It turns out that the operation has been transformed into its opposite and through infiltration has become another cash cow for the city’s criminals.

An extensive corruption scandal is unfolding, where what is described as “key individuals” in the city’s crime prevention work have been found to have had other and significantly more self-serving motives for seeking the assignments than a genuine desire to help young people in danger away from the clutches of the criminal gangs.

The first signal came on September 17 in the form of an anonymous complaint to the city about “deficiencies and irregularities” related to how a named municipal chief is handling their job within the project. The chief is said to be “very experienced” and has, among other things, been popular to hire as a lecturer in crime prevention contexts.

However, it has all been a facade to enrich themselves financially and nepotistically ensure that close relatives within the family and clan have also secured positions at the tax-funded troughs, without having any qualifications for the positions they have been recruited for.

Audit reveals extensive irregularities

Following the anonymous tip, an audit was initiated, where the designated chief’s computer, payroll lists, overtime pay, recruitments, use of company cars and credit cards, and the operation’s petty cash have been scrutinized. The conclusion is that the chief has “seriously neglected their obligations towards the employer and should therefore be dismissed from their employment“.

More specifically, the chief is said to have 1) “intentionally and systematically” reported working hours and overtime that did not correspond to any actual work performed, 2) received tax-funded salary from the city of Malmö while also receiving a salary from employment in another nearby municipality, used the city’s company cars and parking app for private purposes – even for vacation travel, and 3) hired at least one close relative who lacked qualifications for the position.

In these various ways, the chief is said to have emptied the project of taxpayer money for their own benefit, together with their presumed romantic partner, who also holds what is described as “a leading position” in the operation. The individual has not yet been fired but is currently suspended from their job.

The chief has admitted to some of the job-related mistakes and crimes but so far denies most of the accusations. The individual, who previously was easily accessible to the media, is now avoiding journalists’ questions.

Obstructed investigation and covered up tracks

In addition to what has been uncovered and led to the chief’s dismissal, during the investigation and while the individual was suspended, they have attempted to obstruct the scrutiny and cover up tracks. Contrary to an explicit prohibition on communicating with their now former colleagues, the individual “has, during the investigation, contacted employees and colleagues at the agency with the intention of spreading anxiety and incorrect information about the employer and their actions in the matter“.

The chief has also attempted to preempt a dishonorable dismissal by resigning with immediate effect during the investigation. However, the resignation was not granted, citing that the position is subject to a three-month mutual notice period.

No severance pay – but may avoid police report

Recently, several scandals have unfolded where high-ranking individuals in the public sector have left their positions but have been compensated with generous severance pay at the taxpayers’ expense. Karolina Larsson, HR manager at the Malmö City Labor Market and Social Administration, insists that this has not happened in the current case.

“It is not about any financial agreement,” she said in a comment to Sydsvenskan.

At the same time, she acknowledges that they have not yet reported the dismissed chief to the police and have not yet decided whether they will do so at all. Despite a number of other individuals, with the chief’s apparent consent, having enriched themselves at the taxpayers’ expense and seemingly been aware of the irregularities in this, Karolina Larsson states that the city currently has no plans to dismiss or take any legal action against any of them.

The stated reason is that the operation to keep immigrant youth away from the gangs would be adversely affected if more people were suspended or fired.

“What is important now is to ensure that the operation runs smoothly and that employees are doing well,” explains Larsson.

Criticism for cover-up and ‘culture of silence’

Officials at Malmö City are criticized for attempting to cover up the corruption scandal. Honest employees in the operation in question and other nearby alleged crime prevention operations have not been informed about the extensive irregularities that have been discovered. “It is beyond criticism,” says a person spoken to by Sydsvenskan about the ‘culture of silence’ they feel is coming from the top.

In a written response to the criticism, the management of the Malmö City Labor Market and Social Administration argues that the hush-hush is due to being legally prevented from disclosing information. They write:

“We understand and respect the need to clarify what has happened, what is ongoing, and what steps are ahead. At the same time, as an employer and management, we are bound by labor law rules, which means that in certain situations, we must be restrained with information.”