Sweden is investigating suspected aggravated corporate espionage at a sensitive healthcare-related company involving two brothers of Iranian origin, with TV4 reporting police are examining whether unique medical technology was intended to be taken to Iran.
Police arrested the two brothers in early October after suspicions intensified, and both were later remanded in custody. The younger brother was released on bail on December 19, according to TV4.
The older brother is suspected of aggravated corporate espionage dating back to January this year, while the other is under investigation for aggravated theft linked to the same company since the summer.
The case has been under investigation for months under strict secrecy rules.
TV4 Nyheterna said, citing information it obtained, that police are investigating whether one of the brothers attempted to steal unique medical technology developed by the company and planned to take company secrets to Iran.
Prosecutor Jenna Sourander said the company manufactures products linked to healthcare but declined to identify it or provide further details because of the sensitivity of the case, the report said.
“Corporate espionage concerns company secrets and the like. The theft is linked to the corporate espionage. It is theft of items belonging to the company,” Sourander said, declining to elaborate further.
The case has been transferred to Sweden’s National Unit against International and Organized Crime. Sourander said the suspects had “to some extent” links to Iran, adding that the nature of the alleged crimes and information about the activity involved prompted the case transfer.
TV4 said Sourander declined to say whether the company suffered damage or only faced a risk of harm, adding that either could meet the threshold for suspicion. TV4 said documents it reviewed showed the detained engineer cited financial difficulties.
“There is a great deal of technical investigation under way now and witness interviews,” Sourander said.
The report said Sweden’s domestic security service SAPO confirmed it was aware of the case and was cooperating with police.
“The Security Service generally has ongoing cooperation with the Police Authority, shares information and supports our various tasks,” TV4 quoted SAPO spokesperson Gabriel Wernstedt as saying, referring questions about the investigation itself to police.
Both brothers deny any wrongdoing, according to the prosecutor.
TV4 said, in an email to the broadcaster, Iran’s embassy in Sweden rejected any suggestion of Iranian involvement, saying it “rejects all allegations of involvement in hostile or disruptive activities against Sweden” and describing relations between Iran and Sweden as longstanding and friendly.
Earlier this year in March, SAPO warned that Sweden faces an escalating security threat from Iran, which has intensified its intelligence activities and use of criminal networks within the country.
