Rikskrim to Sudan - Lundin Oil to be investigated

Link to web article here.

The preliminary investigation of including Carl Bildt's involvement in any alleged crimes under international law takes shortly a crucial step.

Prosecutors and investigators from the national police are on their way to Sudan to examine witnesses, said a source Expressen.

- We do not comment on what action we take, says prosecutor Magnus Elving.

He has led the investigation since June 2010 and has consistently refused to reveal what has emerged. He is working with a colleague at the International Public Prosecution Office, Krister Peterson.

- It is a complex material with many facts and therefore we are two prosecutors, says Magnus Elving.

But it's no secret that some of the preliminary investigation requires elements of investigative work done in Sudan, the country where the alleged crimes law to have taken place between 1997 and 2003.

Then prospected Lundin Petroleum, which was then called Lundin Oil, after the oil in the notorious area Block5A. Block 5A is now in South Sudan, which became independent 2011th.

The decision to initiate the investigation was taken after a coalition of NGOs, the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan in 2010 published the report, "Unpaid Debt - the Legacy of Lundin, Petronas and OMV in Sudanin Block 5A, Sudan, 1997-2003."

ROUGH ABUSE

The report accused the Sudanese government of their government forces have committed serious abuses and international law violations range that cost thousands of lives.

It was only for one reason, to secure the area for Lundin company and its partners, the report said.

When the investigation began Elving wrote in a press release that he will investigate whether "there are individuals with ties to Sweden who are suspected of involvement in the crime."

In this case, it is, inter alia, the then board of Lundin Oil. Bildt sat on the board between 2000 and 2003.

Magnus Elving has previously confirmed that at the stage of preliminary investigation should also examine witnesses in Sudan.

THE INVESTIGATION ALIVE

But neither he nor Peterson would like to acknowledge the role of Expressen had - that to happen soon and it's Krister Peterson who will be traveling there with a number of investigators from the National Criminal Investigation Department War Crimes Commission.

- The pre-trial confidentiality in this matter and we would tell those measures as it may interfere with an investigation, says Krister Peterson.

But he confirmed that the investigation is very much alive, and has been since its inception in June 2010.

- There are no plans to end it, says Krister Peterson.

No one is even served on suspicion of crimes.