United Kingdom: CFWIJ concerned over the defamation case filed against Swedish journalists

November 20, 2020 — A businessman has filed a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) against the editor-in-chief of Swedish media, Realtid, Camilla Jonsson and reporters Annelie Östlund and Per Agerman.  The claim was raised for their investigation into the financing of energy projects involving the plaintiff. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the defamatory accusation against the journalists merely doing their job.

According to the Council of Europe, Realtid reporters started their investigation in September, with a report on a stock market launch. Throughout their investigation, the journalists discovered information about off-market sales of Eco Energy World shares, a company controlled by Swedish businessman, Svante Kumlin.

Before publishing the report, the journalists tried to reach out to the company for a comment on the matter but did not receive a response. After the report was published in October, the journalists again tried to contact the owners of Eco Energy World, including Svante. He refused the interview, the journalists opting instead to send him questions he could answer in writing. Svante replied, saying his legal counsel “will respond to you directly”.

Realtid received several emails and hostile letters from a law firm in the United Kingdom and another in Monaco, where Svante resides. The firms threatened legal action in the UK and Monaco if Realtid continued its investigation into Eco Energy World. 

On November 20, 2020, Svante’s lawyers filed a defamation case at the London High Court, accusing Camilla, Annelie and Per of publishing false information and breaching a non-disclosure agreement by sharing what was claimed to be confidential information. 

The right to question is one of the basic tenets of journalism. CFWIJ is distressed by lawsuits filed against journalists doing their work within the boundaries of both law and ethics. We stand with the journalists and call for the unfounded lawsuit to be dismissed.