May 21, 2013—Three former Saab Automobile executives have been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of accounting fraud, the Associated Press reports.
According to Olof Sahlgren, Swedish Economic Crime Authority’s chief prosecutor, the three are “suspected of aggravated attempts to avoid tax controls.” Sahlgren alleged the three falsified parts of Saab’s accounts between 2010 and 2011.
While Sahlgren declined to identify the three executives, Bloomberg reports that court documents indicate former CEO Jan-Aake Jonsonn, former CFO Karl-Gustav Lindstroem and former general counsel Kristina Geers were those detained.
The investigation focuses on incidents before Saab filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, during the time the company was owned by Dutch carmaker Spyker.
“We will evaluate the questioning from yesterday, and, after that, the people will be subject to further questioning. And this afternoon, I will decide whether to keep them in custody or release_notes them,” Sahlgren said, according to Bloomberg. “It’s about accounting measures to complicate the control operation of the tax authority regarding the calculation of taxes and fees.”
The charges carry potential prison sentences of up to four years.
