At the end of 2018, shortly after Umeå municipality decided that Thorengruppen would be allowed to build Thoren arena, municipal councilor Hans Lindberg (S) bought a holiday home in Stubbsand outside Örnsköldsvik. An area where Thorengruppen’s owner and former CEO owns a large amount of real estate. One of the properties borders the municipal council.
And in 2018 and 2019, Raja Thorén bought a holiday home just 10 meters from the holiday home that Hans Lindberg has in Hemavan.
Already in 2019, the Left Party directed suspicions of crony corruption in connection with the procurement of Thoren arena. Something that was denied.
When the municipal board’s business and labor committee discussed the purchase of Thoren arena on Tuesday, Hans Lindberg (S) was not present as he announced his objection.
Can you make decisions in the future in a neutral way without filing a complaint?
– I have not made any decisions yet, so the issue has not been topical, says Hans Lindberg, (S)
Discussed with lawyers
He states that he has discussed with the municipality’s lawyers whether he is harsh towards the seller Raja Thorén because of the neighborhood.
– As the properties are in the same bay, we have discussed that, absolutely.
Can you make a decision regarding Thoren arena?
– Yes, when we talk to the lawyers, I can probably do that, says Hans Lindberg (S)
The expert: “Neighbors do not mean equals”
Jan Turvall, lecturer in political science at the University of Gothenburg and an expert on equality issues, believes that just the neighborhood does not mean equality – but that something more is needed in the relationship.
– The fact that they are neighbors is not a formal reason for a fight. But the question is whether they are close friends, regularly hang out. Then it can be a question of whores, says Jan Turvall.
In the video above, you can hear Hans Lindberg avoiding the question about his friendship with Raja Thorén.