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Staffanstorp Politicians Acquitted in Refugee Reception Case After Four-Year Legal Battle

Key Points
  • Christian Sonesson and five other Staffanstorp politicians were acquitted of gross misconduct charges.
  • The case involved their 2022 decision to stop quota refugee reception in the municipality.
  • The four-year legal process ended after the prosecutor decided not to appeal the acquittal.

Christian Sonesson, the municipal councilor in Staffanstorp, has expressed relief after a court decision acquitting him and five other politicians of gross misconduct gained legal force. According to SVT Skåne, the case stemmed from the politicians' decision in spring 2022 to stop the reception of quota refugees in the municipality. The district court acquitted the politicians earlier this year, and the verdict became final after prosecutor Magdalena Petersson decided not to appeal.

Sonesson, a top politician from the Moderate Party, described the nearly four-year legal process as "character-building" but criticized it as something that should never have taken place. Prosecutor Petersson stated she received answers to the principled questions she considered important but ultimately decided against appealing, anticipating no changes in the court of appeal. The politicians were investigated for gross misconduct following their controversial decision on refugee reception policy.

The district court acquitted them of the suspicions earlier this year, and the prosecutor, Magdalena Petersson, decided not to appeal, allowing the ruling to become final.

Sonesson criticized the nearly four-year legal process, stating it should never have taken place.

Christian Sonesson, top politician in Staffanstorp

Petersson said she got answers to the principled questions she considered important but did not foresee changes in the court of appeal, leading to her decision not to appeal.

Magdalena Petersson, prosecutor

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