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April 8, 2010

From Swedish public service TV’s newscast “Rapport”

Tuesday April 6, 2010, 7:30 pm

An Iranian businessman in the northern Swedish town of Umeå is currently under suspicion for violating UN sanctions against Iran by transferring large sums of money from Iran to various companies around the world. The companies in turn exported banned products to Iran. It is suspected that the products may have included parts required for an Iranian nuclear arms program.

UN sanctions against Iran ban exports of technology to Iran that can be used to produce weapons of mass destruction, missiles, and nuclear weapons. The Umeå-based businessman is suspected to have violated the sanctions.

The businessman’s company in Umeå has transferred more than five billion Swedish kronor (approximately 691 million USD) over the past few years from Iran to various companies around the world.

Björn Rosenlöf, spokesperson for the Swedish National Economic Crimes Bureau stated, “Well, we can see that the money comes, as I said, exclusively from Iran, and that it has been spread to recipients around the world. I can confirm that a large sum has gone to the USA and was intended for purchasing goods covered by the sanctions against Iran. However, the US authorities managed to stop the export, therefore the goods never actually left the country.”

Patrik Peter, spokesperson for the Swedish Security Service stated, “The Swedish Security Service is currently carrying out a preliminary inquiry headed by district prosecutor Ronnie Jacobsson. The suspicions concern violations of international sanction regulations. The way things look at the moment, these suspicions are connected to Iran.”

District Prosecutor Ronnie Jacobsson confirmed at the unit for security-related cases on Swedish TV’s newscast “Rapport” that he has discovered money transactions in the course of his investigation which are suspected to be connected with illegal trade with Iran.

The Umeå-based businessman has been charged with a serious accounting fraud at the Umeå district court. The court for the fraud case begins Thursday. It was during the course of investigation into the fraud case that the police began to suspect transactions made by the businessman’s company possibly linked to illegal trade with Iran.

“Rapport” interviewer: How does the defendant himself explain the money transactions?

Björn Rosenlöf, spokesperson for the Swedish National Economic Crimes Bureau: He explains that he has been helping small Iranian companies that wanted to buy goods outside Iran, in Europe, America, and Asia.

“Rapport” interviewer: But you don’t buy that explanation?

Björn Rosenlöf: No, I think it is a little unconvincing.

The businessman’s lawyer Leif Silbersky has declined to comment on the suspicions against his client.

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