After SVT's review of housing for criminals - the city of Malmö can be fined ten million

Previously, IVO, the Inspectorate for Health and Care Services, has criticized how the City of Malmö placed young criminals in supported housing.

Now the next authority comes with criticism - and this time it is about the lack of procurement.

Based on SVT's information, the Swedish Competition Authority initiated an investigation.

It is now complete and has been sent to the municipality, which may comment before a final decision is made.

It is then decided whether Malmö will be obliged to pay a procurement damages fee, a fine that in this case the Swedish Competition Authority has calculated at ten million kronor.

That is the highest possible amount.

"Aggravating parts"

- In this case, we make the assessment that it has a high contract value, somewhere over a hundred million.

At the same time, we see some aggravating parts such as the fact that most of the purchases have been made over a long period of time, says Anders Larsson, a lawyer at the Swedish Competition Authority.

What is the purpose of such a fee?

- That contracting authorities should be allowed to apply the legislation correctly.

It is a sanction when you have not advertised in accordance with the procurement legislation, a type of fine you can say, says Anders Larsson.

The Swedish Competition Authority also writes that the possibility of supervision has been made more difficult by how the municipality carried out and reported its purchases, ie that there are no agreements for certain purchases.

Waiting for Malmö city's response

The investigation has now been sent to the city of Malmö, which will issue an opinion.

Decisions will then be made before the turn of the year.

Rebecca Bichis, head of department in the city of Malmö, says that they will work on an opinion which will then be taken up at the board meeting on 19 November.

- It's too early to say.

We have to wait for our opinion before we leave comments, she says about how the municipality views the risk of fines of millions.

She says that the administration has issued a procurement of supported housing.

- A procurement process is underway that is expected to be completed in early spring.

Sedat Arif (S), municipal councilor with responsibility for the labor market and social administration, does not want to comment on the investigation before the decision is final.