The former Lundintoppen Ian Lundin testified for the first time in the Stockholm district court, suspected of aiding and abetting a serious violation of international law.
The trial against Lundin Oil is about what happened 25 years ago in Sudan.
– For me, it is difficult to remember exactly and distinguish between what I knew then and what I know now, says Ian Lundin.
On Wednesday, the prosecutor began questioning the defendants in Sweden’s longest trial – directors Ian Lundin and Alex Schneiter. The trial has then been underway for over 15 months.
– This goal is about something that happened a long time ago. For me, it is difficult to remember exactly and distinguish between what I knew then and what I know now, says former board chairman Ian Lundin.
The trial is about what happened 25 years ago when the regime in Sudan committed gross abuses against the population in the southern parts of the country. Around 12,000 people were killed – 160,000 were displaced from their homes.
Prosecutor: Lundin is responsible
The prosecutor claims that the violence took place to give Lundin Oil the opportunity to extract oil in the area – and that Ian Lundin and his co-accused are responsible for the violence. But on Wednesday, Ian Lundin testified that his company entered the business for completely different reasons.
– We saw that there was an opportunity to improve the situation in the country. And the best way to improve the situation in such countries is to help the economy develop and reduce poverty, he says.
Lundin denies wrongdoing
In the courtroom today, the prosecutor mostly wanted to know who was responsible for what in the company – where Ian Lundin admitted that he personally signed agreements with the regime and had contacts with the government in Sudan.
The trial, which is Sweden’s most comprehensive ever, is not expected to be completed until 2026. Tomorrow, the interrogation of the Swedish financier, who denies any crime, continues.