SWEDEN: Olofsson "not totally logical" on Saab: Committee chairman
By Simon Warburton | 27 April 2012
Sweden's Constitutional Committee chairman has questioned former Enterprise Minister, Maud Olofsson's position with relation to Russian businessman, Vladimir Antonov's attempt to buy into Saab.
Despite the Committee chairman, Green Party member, Peter Eriksson's comments, he nonetheless said it was "hard to prove anything doubtful" about the Minister's actions during Antonov's failed investment attempt.
The rare Constitutional Committee hearing was called by Swedish Social Democratic members of Parliament, Jorgen Hellman and Peter Johnsson, with the former questioning the time lost investigating Antonov's suitability for Saab, despite securing approval from the National Debt Office (SNDO).
"We asked some questions around Antonov...and about the ownership of Saab," Eriksson told just-auto from Sweden. "We got the impression she says one thing and one time, another thing, it was not totally logical.
"She [Olofsson] stated it was General Motors that stopped the Antonov possibility."
Even though Antonov was eventually thwarted by the refusal of the European Investment Bank to countenance his involvement, the Committee chairman acknowledged there were a "lot of questions around him still."
Last year the Swedish National Debt Office cleared Antonov to own up to 30% of Saab, after it had heard rumours from Russia involving money laundering and organised crime.
The SNDO even went so far as to employ a private investigation firm to establish Antonov's integrity, with the Russian carrying out his own study.
The Constitutional Committee will hear the SNDO's views concerning Antonov on 10 May in Stockholm, the final hearing into the Saab affair.
Following the hearings, the Swedish Parliament will debate the issue towards the end of May or the beginning of June.
Saab is currently in hands of receivers in Gothenburg, who are evaluating a range of bids for the automaker.
Sectors: Financial, Vehicle manufacturers, Vehicle manufacturing
Companies: Saab, General Motors
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