Swedish ex-govt adviser goes on trial over mislaid documents

[Desmond Milligan 0]

Sweden's former national security adviser went on trial Monday for forgetting classified documents at a Stockholm hotel conference centre, which prosecutors said jeopardised the country's security.

Henrik Landerholm, who resigned in January over the scandal, left the documents in an unlocked locker at the hotel in March 2023.

According to the charge sheet and police investigation, the hotel cleaner who found the papers could be "linked to violent extremism circles".

Landerholm has pleaded not guilty to a charge of "carelessness with classified information", which carries the risk of a fine or up to a year in prison if convicted.

He has admitted, however, that he forgot the documents in his hotel room.

His lawyer Johan Eriksson told the court that it was not known if anyone had seen the contents.

"We are arguing that, given the circumstances, the information has not been disclosed," Eriksson told the court, arguing that the information "was not of a nature that could be considered harmful to Sweden's national security" even if it came to light.

Landerholm told the court there was "no excuse" for the incident in the Gallofsta hotel, adding: "It was unfortunate and inappropriate. It is now up to the court to decide if it was a crime."

Much of the proceedings in the case are set to be held behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of the information.

After the scandal erupted, Swedish media also revealed that Landerholm forgot his cell phone at the Hungarian embassy in December 2022, shortly after he was appointed as adviser.

He also left a notebook behind after a media interview in January 2023.

The 62-year-old has previously worked as an ambassador, director of Sweden's Psychological Defence Agency, principal of the Swedish Defence University, and chairman of parliament's defence committee.

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