Legal Battle Sparks Over Wrongful Death Declaration in Sweden

In a troubling legal case, Jonathan Ravelin was wrongfully declared dead by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) due to a fraudulent document bearing a forged signature. This incident, which was first discovered by Ravelin late in 2023 while attempting to access his bank account, has led him to file a lawsuit against the state, demanding 20,000 kronor for the distress and inconveniences caused by this bureaucratic error.

Ravelin’s ordeal meant he lost access to crucial personal identification, including his bank ID and passport, for six weeks. He is challenging the adequacy of the verification processes in place at Skatteverket, particularly the handling of physical submissions of death certificates. According to Ravelin and the Centrum för rättvisa (Center for Justice), such mistakes are not isolated incidents; there have been numerous cases of individuals being incorrectly registered as deceased in Sweden, with reported figures showing 42 cases in 2021, 46 in 2022, and 16 in 2023.

The ongoing trial in Stockholm District Court aims to underscore the need for stricter verification measures within Swedish administrative services. Alexandra Loyd, deputy head of the Centrum för rättvisa, has called for Skatteverket to enhance its processes by linking doctor registration with the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare’s records to mitigate future occurrences. The outcome of this significant case may catalyze reforms in the way personal data is handled by government authorities in Sweden.