• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Saab backer Antonov suspected of fraud

Published: 23 Nov 11 16:17 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/37528/20111123/

Lithuanian prosecutors have issued a European arrest warrant for the Russian financier and Saab backer Vladimir Antonov on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

Antonov was involved in the financing which facilitated the takeover of Swedish carmaker Saab by Dutch firm Spyker.

According to Lithuanian authorities money allegedly embezzled from the Krajbanka bank was intended to buy a stake in the cash-strapped Swedish firm.

The head of the bank, Ivars Prieditis was arrested earlier on Wednesday on suspicion of plundering its reserves.

Krajbanka is a subsidiary of Vladimir Antonov's Snoras Bank which was taken over last week by Lithuanian authorities after suspicions emerged of accounting irregularities.

Vladimir Antonov remains an indirect financier of Saab Automobile.

According to his own information, he has provided loans of at least 800 million kronor ($116 million) to Saab CEO Victor Muller's company which is a major shareholder in Saab's parent company Swedish Automobile.

It remains unclear if either Soras or Krajbanka provided any of the funds for the investment.

Antonov's links to Saab, Spyker and Victor Muller have long been controversial.

A report to the Swedish government in December 2009, shortly before General Motors decided to close down Saab, city Antonov's long conflict with a senior person within the Bank of Russia and with the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The European Investment Bank (EIB) in July confirmed a loan to Saab, but only on the condition that Antonov was kept out of the firm.

There have also been reports that General Motors have blocked the Russian financier's involvement.

In April this year, the Swedish National Debt Office however decided that that there were no grounds to prevent Vladimir Antonov from becoming a Spyker shareholder.

The Debt Office conducted an inspection into Antonov's background following rumours of money laundering and contact with the mafia.

According to the Lithuanian authorities there is 1.3 billion kronor missing from Krajbanka and the bank is likely to fold.

TT/The Local/pvs (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

18:03 November 23, 2011 by RobinHood
It would be terribly awkward if Swedens national icon was purchased from GM with a great stinking pile of stolen money. I am sure it has all been a terrible misunderstanding, and Mr Antonov and Spyker will explain it all away tomorrow.
21:41 November 23, 2011 by Opinionfool
The guy in the picture reminds me of Roman Abramovich (another Russian oligarch whose monies origin is somewhat questionable).
00:28 November 24, 2011 by PaulTheOctopus
i dont understand those oligarchs, they never gonna spend all that money in their lives even their grandsons, so whats the point stealing last cents from all those poor people
17:31 November 24, 2011 by SockRayBlue
What is one to do with all that ill gotten gain from drugs, porn, black marketing, politics, organized crime, etcetera?
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Aid cuts would be 'devastating'

Aid cuts would be 'devastating'

Criticism of the government's foreign aid policy is mounting as Swedish ambassadors, aid organizations and politicians slam Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson's announcements that development assistance to several countries may be slashed. READ () »

Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs

Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs

Forestry giant Stora Enso plans to let another 2,500 employees go, of whom 750 work in Sweden, citing weak markets and deflating profits. READ () »

Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal

Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal

Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »

New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job

New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job

TeliaSonera's new head Johan Dennelind believes he is the right man to restore the Swedish telecom giant's reputation after the company's Uzbek bribery scandal. READ () »

ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO

ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO

Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB has appointed a new CEO, who has a background in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and automotive industries and who was a key player in the acquisition of Baldor. READ () »

Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier

Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier

Sweden's state-run liquor store monopoly has sent back 6,000 bottles of a Spanish wine because it tasted better than expected, according to a Swedish alcohol supplier. READ () »

Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories

Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories

Development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that the Swedish government may reduce development assistance for the Palestinians since they have failed to reach a peace agreement with Israel. READ () »

Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture

Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture

A hierarchical "Gothenburg Spirit" among politicians and civil servants contributed to a culture of corruption in the past decade, concluded a report on Sweden's second largest city. READ () »

Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban

Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban

The Swedish government has given up its efforts to force the European Union to scrap its ban on the export of snus, choosing instead to focus on protecting the popular moist tobacco product's use in Sweden. READ () »

Labour migration in Sweden
'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'

'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'

Since 2008, migrants to Sweden can swap course from seeking asylum to seeking a work visa with the help of an employer. The Local speaks to one migrant who praises the system, while saying it could be improved. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
18/06 Accounting Specialist
Hays
Katowice, SLA
18/06 Agency General Manager ? Scandinavia
Göteborg
18/06 C++ Developer
Stockholm
18/06 Chemical Plant Manager
The Valspar
Hendrik Ido Ambacht (NL)
18/06 Cloud Architect
Capgemini Sverige AB
Malmö, SKÅ
18/06 Compliance Manager - Nordics
Ace European Group Ltd
Stockholm
18/06 CPL Ireland - Swedish Collections
CPL Ireland
Malmö
18/06 CPL Ireland - Swedish or Danish
CPL Ireland
Malmö
18/06 Enterprise Services Solution Architect
Sverige
18/06 Financial Reporting Product Manager
Sverige

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now