11 people on trial for Sweden’s ‘largest environmental crime’

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🗞️ Driving the news: Eleven individuals are on trial in Sweden for allegedly committing the country’s largest environmental crime by illegally dumping over 200,000 tonnes of waste
• The defendants, linked to the waste management company Think Pink, face charges of serious environmental and economic crimes

🔭 The context: The accused allegedly dumped toxic waste across 21 sites in 15 Swedish municipalities, using falsified documents to cover up their activities
• The company’s former CEO, Bella Nilsson, now known as Fariba Vancor, is among those on trial
• The trial involves over 150 witnesses and an investigation spanning more than 45,000 pages

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The illegal dumping has released hazardous substances such as arsenic, lead, and carcinogenic PCBs into the environment, contaminating soil, air, and water
• Such environmental damage poses severe health risks and highlights critical gaps in waste management regulations

⏭️ What's next: The trial is expected to last until May 2025, with prosecutors seeking a ten-year business ownership ban for the main defendants
• The outcome could set a significant legal precedent for environmental accountability in Sweden

💬 One quote: “The largest environmental crime in Sweden in terms of scope and organisation,” stated prosecutor Anders Gustafsson

📈 One stat: Claims for damages amount to 260 million Swedish Krona (approximately €23 million), mostly from affected municipalities

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