Former Sweden Democrats Politician Håkan Malmström Convicted for Gross Fraud in Västerås and Västmanland

Håkan Malmström, a former politician affiliated with the Sweden Democrats (SD), has been convicted by Västmanlands tingsrätt for two counts of gross fraud relating to wrongful compensation claims during his service in the Västerås municipal council and Västmanland regional council. The court found that Malmström repeatedly received compensation for lost income while attending political meetings, despite not being entitled to it, on approximately 180 occasions.

As a result, Malmström was ordered to pay damages totaling 436,042 kronor—379,530 kr to Västerås Stad and 56,512 kr to Region Västmanland—and sentenced to a conditional sentence with 200 hours of community service. He has also been required to resign from all his political assignments within the city and regional government following the verdict.

Malmström denies any wrongdoing and maintains that he only accepted payments he was eligible for. His attorney, Sven Severin, stated that Malmström is disappointed with the ruling and plans to appeal the decision. Despite the conviction, Malmström is running as the lead candidate for the Medborgerlig samling party in the upcoming elections, with the party leadership expressing unwavering support for him.

This case highlights concerns over political accountability and financial misconduct in local government, emphasizing the legal repercussions of abusing compensation rights tied to political duties. The court's firm ruling serves as a warning against fraudulent claiming of benefits within Sweden’s regional and municipal political structures.