Swedish firms face Iraq bribes probe

[Stockholm]

Swedish companies accused of paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime as part of the scandal-hit UN Oil for Food programme are to be investigated by prosecutors in Stockholm.

Announcing the investigation in a statement on Monday, Sweden’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor Christer van der Kwast said he would look into “everything that could be considered relevant and which has a Swedish link that makes it possible to prosecute in Sweden.”

“This naturally means that we’re talking about an as yet unidentified group,” he said, but added that the investigation would look to identify both companies and individuals. They could be charged with breaking international sanctions or bribery, the prosecutor revealed.

According to van der Kwast, the inquiry will focus on companies named in the United Nations report on the issue, which was published last October.

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