A democracy advisor in Gothenburg has been dismissed after being implicated in aiding criminal gangs. The individual was involved in a money laundering investigation, allegedly allowing gang members to use his account for illegal transactions. Despite denying the allegations, the advisor has been let go, with the city opting for a settlement to avoid costly legal proceedings.
Democracy Advisor Dismissed Over Gang Connections in Gothenburg
Democracy Advisor Dismissed Over Gang Connections
A democracy advisor accused of facilitating criminal gangs has been dismissed from the Democracy and Citizen Service in Gothenburg.
At the beginning of the year, Gothenburg city received information that an employee at the Democracy and Citizen Service was involved in an ongoing investigation by the Economic Crime Authority, concerning individuals within the criminal gang environment.
The man is suspected of allowing his account to be used by convicted gang criminals under investigation for serious money laundering offenses.
One of the transactions involves 100,000 SEK, a purported loan, which is now part of the evidence in an ongoing money laundering case in Gothenburg.
Background in the Bandidos Environment
One of the men the official had financial transactions with can be linked by Expressen to the Bandidos environment, as well as to a suburban network in Gothenburg involved in several serious violent crimes, including murder, over the years.
After a lengthy investigation, the man has now been forced to leave his job. His role as a community advisor included increasing democratic participation among Gothenburg residents and guiding citizens on societal issues.
He also had access to data systems that collect notes from various crime prevention and safety projects.
– "We work for the residents' sake, we should not do anything that risks damaging their trust," says the administration's HR manager Marie Bake about the background to the dismissal decision.
“Provide Security in Democracy”
– Generally, one works in a role where we aim to provide security in democracy and in the authorities we have, so that people can turn to the authorities.
In the labor law investigation, the man is described as an enabler, a term used by the police for individuals who assist in the criminal environment without having a leading role in criminal activities.
In this case, the man is accused of repeatedly allowing his account to be used by criminals.
“Participating in criminality and being an enabler for members of a known criminal network is not compatible with the mission of the operation,” writes the administration in the labor law investigation and continues:
“Working for democratic participation while participating in activities that go against democratic values can lead to a loss of public trust and reduce the operation's legitimacy.”
Prosecutor Provided Information
The man was on leave when the information became known to the municipality, through so-called agency cooperation where police and prosecutors provide information to the municipality.
According to a service note from a prosecutor at the Economic Crime Authority, which was handed over to the municipality, the official's account is used for suspected money laundering where the official transfers money that comes into his account.
The man was “fully aware that these money launderings are taking place,” writes the prosecutor, noting that one of the two men has been suspected in several money laundering investigations, an extortion investigation, and has a past in a subgroup of Bandidos, while the other man was recently convicted of serious fraud and is now suspected of serious money laundering where the man is also charged.
According to the official himself, he deals in currency trading and denies any involvement with gang criminality.
He is himself unpunished and does not want to comment on the dispute or the allegations.
750,000 SEK
Through his union, the man has appealed the dismissal decision, and before the dispute reached court, Gothenburg municipality chose to enter into a settlement that means the official now receives 16 months' salary, 576,000 SEK.
The cost to taxpayers, with taxes and fees, amounts to just over 750,000.
According to HR manager Marie Bake, the settlement should not be interpreted as the municipality changing its stance on the matter.
All reasons for dismissal remain, according to her, but they saw a potential legal process with an uncertain outcome as more costly for taxpayers.
According to the settlement, the municipality has also formally withdrawn the dismissal decision, but the employment is terminated.