The online magazine Bulletin's journey has been fraught with quarrels, dropouts and financial worries.
The news site, which has a right-wing profile, was, however, saved by tax money in the form of an operating grant of SEK 8 million from the Swedish Press, Radio and Television Authority.
But now co-founder Pontus Tholin accuses the Bulletin of cheating on the support.
In an email to Dagens Media, he writes:
“Since I am still the main owner of Bulletin, even though I have left all management positions, I am very anxious not to be linked to this fraudulent handling.
To steal tax money is as far from my own liberal-conservative values as one can get at all ”.
Report the management to the police for gross fraud
He further writes that the rules for receiving media support state that all articles must be locked for everyone other than subscribers.
But according to Pontus Tholin, this is not true in Bulletin's case.
According to Dagens media, the site must have gone in and locked articles afterwards - in connection with them applying for media support.
I was not a co-founder of the major media venture that would 'gather the conservative bourgeoisie', to see the new management act irresponsibly and seize tax money to which one is not entitled;
this in order to be able to continue to pursue a serious right-wing project towards the brink of ruin before the fateful election of 2022 through an insane management of the company that lacks any business basis ”.
That is why Pontus Tholin has now submitted a police report of gross fraud against Bulletin's management.
Management dismisses the allegations
Tino Sanandaji, who is part of the management, tells Dagens media that the accusations are unfounded.
- In such infected disputes, it may be that people use the report to paint black.
It costs nothing to report and it in itself means nothing.
So I take this in stride, he says.
The authority for press, radio and television says that they have made an assessment they consider to be correct before the decision to grant Bulletin support, but that if new information should come to light, the grant may be withdrawn or the news site may be liable for repayment.
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The money will prevent bankruptcy, says board chairman and co-owner Tino Sanandaji.
Photo: Screenshot / Tore Sætre / CC