Over the past five years, 298 people have been charged with perjury, that is, in their testimony they lied so that it affected the outcome of the case, reports the P1 program "In the name of the law". Of these, at least 30 people state that they themselves, the police or the court feel that they have been exposed to threats or pressures.
Of those who have been prosecuted, 215 people have later been convicted and what has been recurring in many cases are witnesses who lied about a friend's car driving. Other cases involve, for example, rape or murder.
Alexandra Bittner is a prosecutor and has worked on the case involving the double murder in Kista three years ago, where two witnesses were indicted for perjury. According to her, the police need to work more on the question concerning witnesses.
- I think the police would need more resources to be able to follow up witnesses and witnesses and work more closely with them, says Alexandra Bittner to "In the name of the law".