An engineer in his 40s in the Stockholm area is being investigated by Säpo for a serious data breach of information that could damage Sweden’s security.
The suspicions came to light after the systems at the man’s employer detected mysterious activity.
He then agreed to resign – and was arrested hours after handing in his equipment.
The man has an engineering education and has long been active at some of Sweden’s largest construction companies. For a few years now, he has worked in the public sector.
TV4 Nyheterna was able to reveal last week that the engineer was arrested on suspicion of gross unauthorized position with secret information and gross data breach.
New information is now emerging about the case, which concerns suspicions that could damage the security of the kingdom.
Arrested in the middle of the night
Prosecutors chose to call for the man late on Wednesday evening, June 28. He was arrested a few hours later and detained on the night of Thursday, June 29. The matter was then handled by the so-called open police, but quickly the same day information emerged that led to the involvement of the Security Police.
– We took over the preliminary investigation on Thursday. But we have nothing more to say about it at the moment, says Adam Samara at Säpo’s press service.
The National Security Unit leads the investigation, but is also very reticent and does not want to comment on the reason for taking over the case.
– I can’t tell you that and I can’t comment on the case either, says chief prosecutor Per Lindqvist.
Was summoned to a meeting – before the arrest
Documents seen by TV4 Nyheterna show that the crime period is from Monday morning, June 26 last week. The following day, June 27, the engineer is said to have been summoned by a manager in the public sector in the Stockholm area where he works. The employer also made a police report. Something that is confirmed by a press officer.
– We have agreed with one person that the person concerned should stop. Then we had an incident that happened here that we reported and handed over to the police. The police have chosen to place preliminary investigation secrecy on the file about the incident, so I cannot say anything more.
The meeting documents state that the engineer took three months’ severance pay and that his last day of work would be June 28, when he would also turn in all his equipment. Later that evening, the arrest took place.
Cooperates with the police
The press contact at the engineer’s workplace states that it was they themselves who discovered the criminal suspicions against the man.
– It was the system that sounded the alarm. It was also an employee who discovered that something was not right, says the person without wanting to elaborate for reasons of confidentiality.
The spokesperson states that the police-reported “incident” that Säpo is investigating includes personal data, but that it is unclear how extensive it is.
– We have a dialogue with the police and at the same time review our routines and systems to see if there is anything further we can do.
What kind of information did he have access to?
– As it is a personnel matter, I cannot say anything about it.
The suspect is described by colleagues as “very well-liked” and “a good person”.
“A misunderstanding”
Prosecutors requested that he be detained on probable cause on suspicion of the crimes, but chose hours before the hearing in the district court to withdraw the request.
– He is now at large. I cannot say anything else for reasons of confidentiality, says Per Lindqvist.
The engineer’s lawyer, Joakim Sörmdal, writes in an email:
“The information I can provide is that my client denies any wrongdoing and that it is all a misunderstanding and that the preliminary investigation will hopefully be closed soon.”
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