On Tuesday morning, the police and the Swedish Economic Crime Authority conducted a joint operation, carrying out a search at Sundsvall’s town hall. Five people were arrested, including two Social Democratic politicians.

The five individuals are reportedly connected to two municipal companies and were arrested and detained on suspicion of serious accounting offenses and aggravated fraud. After questioning, they were released, but the suspicions, which are said to be linked to an annual report, remain.

A sixth person connected to the case was brought in for questioning in Stockholm but is not suspected of any crime.

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The local Social Democratic leaders are Petter Stenberg, chairman of the municipal company Stadsbacken, and Anita Bdioui, chairwoman of Sundsvall Logistikpark. Both have stepped aside from their posts and deny any wrongdoing.

– The preliminary investigation continues. The reason they have been released is that the risk of collusion has been eliminated. There is no longer any risk that they will destroy evidence or harm the investigation, says Angelica Vallgren, press officer at the Economic Crime Authority, to Sundsvalls Tidning.

168 Million in the Red

Stadsbacken is the municipality’s parent company for its other municipal enterprises. Sundsvall Logistikpark is a major transport hub where goods can be transferred between rail, shipping, and trucking.

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This was a much-debated major initiative that has struggled with a growing deficit. In the 2024 annual report, the auditors could not reconcile the numbers, and the park posted a loss of around SEK 168 million.

Overly Optimistic Financial Projections

In March 2025, ST reported that the logistics park was accused of presenting overly optimistic projections and reporting figures on false grounds. The audit firm KPMG recommended that the figures for both the logistics park and Stadsbacken for 2024 not be accepted.

– Yes, that may be their opinion, but the Stadsbacken board relied on the logistics park’s data. I am completely confident in the figures we have submitted, said Anita Bdioui at the time.

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The Sweden Democrats were critical, claiming that the company reported projections based on false premises.

On Facebook, municipal councilor Lisa Tynnemark (S) comments on the unfolding situation:

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