Auditors critical after Gothenburg review

While Ernst & Young, the accountancy firm tasked to conduct the audit, found no direct evidence of bribery, the firm said that important details over tenders and how contractors secured contracts are missing.

Following the revelations divulged in the Sveriges Television (SVT) Uppdrag Granskning programme over bribery allegations concerning the municipal housing firm Familjebostäder and the municipal sports and clubs division, the city has responded by announcing a series of reviews.

The Ernst & Young report is the first to be completed specifically looking at the relationship between construction magnate Stefan Allbäck and municipal officials.

Sweden’s anti-corruption unit (Riksenheten mot korruption) responded to the SVT programme by opening an investigation concerning the allegations of aggravated bribery.

The Ernst & Young report has been submitted to vice-mayor Åke Jacobsson and the prosecutor leading the criminal investigation, Nils-Eric Schultz, who will consider whether to publish the report in full.

Gothenburg city legal advisor Gunnar Andersson has declared himself unable to participate in the city’s investigation in a statement on Monday.

Andersson, who has been the subject of criticism since 2006 for not acting on allegations of suspected bribery between Allbäck, Familjebostäder and the sports and clubs division.

He explained in the statement that he was unable to act as the revelations forwarded to the city from 2006 were anonymous and no one was named in the letters.

Gunnar Andersson furthermore explains that as his wife was CEO for Familjebostäder from 1998 to 2002, he is unable to participate in the investigation.

Andersson will be replaced by Bengt-Olof Berggren.