The two county council employees - one of whom has left and one still has his employment with the current Blekinge Region - were reported to the police in May 2018, but are only now being prosecuted as part of an extensive and nationally publicized bribery scandal.

In the Blekinge case, it is a matter of the two now accused having received gift cards worth SEK 3,000 and SEK 5,000 respectively from the education company in Stockholm, which was previously investigated for having bribed staff at several Swedish authorities.

The gift cards were connected to a larger electronics chain and were used for, among other things, a new tablet and other technical accessories.

The big bribe - which applies to several Swedish authorities - was rolled up when the government Debt Office examined invoices from the company.

One of the now accused says in interrogation that it appeared that the gift cards were part of the education package and that the purpose was never to cheat the county council of money.

Both have today repaid the amounts to the employer.