[ad_1]
The new Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anna Hammargren, is the sender of the email, which was sent to all staff at 09:30 a.m.
In the email, Anna Hammargren states that the acquittal against Anna Lindstedt has acquired legal force.
“The internal investigation designated by the head of the expedition before the trial, but which was put on hold when the preliminary investigation began, was resumed when the verdict was final. That investigation has now also been completed. Disciplinary measures have not been completed. been relevant. The investigation has analyzed the facts from the employer’s perspective and Anna Lindstedt has had to give her opinion on the matter. That resolves the matter and adds the investigation to the documents. “
Receive criticism
In addition, it seems that the former ambassador will return to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Anna Lindstedt is now in contact with the personnel unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will soon return to service here at the ministry.”
In an email to Expressen, Sara Brynedal, a press release for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirms that the internal investigation has already been completed:
Based on the verdict and the overall circumstances, there was no reason to bring the matter to the Staff Accountability Committee to remove Anna Lindstedt from employment. There was also no reason to proceed with any disciplinary action under the Public Employment Act. “
However, according to Dagens Nyheter, Anna Lindstedt receives criticism from the Foreign Ministry. In the internal investigation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes that “In relation to the events, Anna Lindstedt did not cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the way that could be expected of her in the consular case”, declares DN.
Gui Minhai’s case
The internal investigation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against Anna Lindstedt, and the trial against her, have concerned her handling of the case of the Swedish-Chinese publisher Gui Minhai, who is being detained in China.
In January 2019, Lindstedt organized a series of meetings at the Sheraton Hotel in Stockholm, where he reunited Gui Minhai’s daughter Angela Gui with the two Chinese businessmen John Meewella and Kevin Liu.
According to Angela Gui, they should have said that they could free her father if she promised not to raise public opinion in the case. The atmosphere must have been threatening.
After the meetings became known, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an internal investigation against Anna Lindstedt. However, it was stopped when the National Unit for Security Cases of the Public Ministry initiated a preliminary investigation for arbitrariness in negotiations with foreign powers.
Freedom in court
Anna Lindstedt was charged and, in early summer, the trial was held at the Stockholm District Court. Anna Lindstedt was acquitted by a unanimous district court.
Arbitrariness in negotiations with a foreign power means that someone who incorrectly claims to be a competent representative of Sweden enters into negotiations with someone who represents the interests of a foreign power.
According to the district court, Anna Lindstedt, as ambassador, was authorized to negotiate with China. The prosecutor had not proven that the meetings at the Sheraton Hotel constitute a negotiation or that the two businessmen represent the interests of the Chinese state.
