A Swedish lawyer faces charges for allegedly laundering nearly 150 million kronor through his firm's client account. Prosecutors claim he received payments from newly produced housing cooperative sales after the property developer's bank accounts were closed.
The lawyer then forwarded the money without checking its origin or destination, according to the indictment. He now stands accused of aggravated money laundering in business activities.
Approximately 300 million kronor passed through the law firm's client account between December 2022 and January 2025. The charges cover 147 million kronor of these transactions.
Prosecutors describe the lawyer as an enabler who used his professional role to help criminal networks. He allegedly facilitated their illegal business operations through his actions.
Philip Gunnarsson, the prosecutor at the Swedish Economic Crime Authority in Stockholm, stated the lawyer allowed hundreds of millions to pass through the account without proper questioning. He said the defendant made no real inquiries about the money's origins.
The accused lawyer denies all allegations. He maintains he handled the funds correctly and performed sufficient checks beforehand.
These are legitimate funds from housing sales, not criminal money, he said in a statement. He finds it remarkable that the prosecutor presents the situation differently and insists on his innocence.
Legal experts note this case highlights ongoing concerns about professional enablers in financial crimes. The outcome could set important precedents for holding professionals accountable when moving large sums without proper due diligence.