From the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, September 5:
After a 13-years-long investigation, two oil executives eventually went Tuesday on trial in Stockholm, Sweden, for abetting grave war crimes committed more than 20 years ago when a consortium led by their company searched for oil in South Sudan.
Prosecutors described twelve such war crimes, allegedly abetted by demands of Swedish company Lundin Oil’s former chairman, Ian Lundin and the ex-CEO, Swiss national Alexandre Schneiter that government forces and its allied militias use force to gain control of an area called Block 5A in order to pave the way for their company’s operations there.
The case of is unique in several ways.
The trial is expected to last for 2.5 years – the longest in Swedish history. Rarely has any business executive been indicted anywhere in the world for a war crimes related offense. Both men deny the charges but face lengthy sentences if convicted.
“In May 1999, the Sudanese government through its military and allied militia groups (…) began undertaking offensive military operations in and near Block 5A with the aim of taking control of the area for oil exploration,” Head Prosecutor Henrik Attorps read out the accusations.
The purpose, he said, was to create the conditions for Lundin to operate in the area, which had not been under government control.
The operations carried on until 2003 and resulted in the “systematic attacks on civilians,” bombed, razed and looted villages, stolen or killed livestock, and the forced removal of the population, the prosecutors argue. Thousands were killed and many more were forced to leave their homes.
There are 32 plaintiffs in the case, none of who were present the first day....
....MUCH MORE
Also at the OCCRP:UK Court Says Mozambique's President Is Immune to 'Tuna Bond' Lawsuit
