In March 2019, the former Minister of Rural Affairs Eskil Erlandsson (C) left his seat in the Riksdag after three female members of the Riksdag reported that they had been subjected to "unwanted touch" by Erlandsson.
Erlandsson was acquitted of the charges in Stockholm District Court, which stated that there was no clear sexual imprint on Erlandsson's touches.
Two of the women chose to appeal the verdict to the Svea Court of Appeal, which announced its verdict at the end of November 2020. A dissenting court of appeal then acquitted Erlandsson of sexual harassment.
Believes that there is a clear sexual character
The two women are now appealing the Court of Appeal's ruling to the Supreme Court.
The basis for the appeal is stated that Erlandsson's caresses on one woman's inside thighs and under the other woman's skirt edge have a clear sexual orientation and should be assessed as two cases of sexual harassment.
"Touching a person on the thigh, above the knee, without ensuring that there is consent, is a touch that is to be regarded as such a clear sexual orientation or character," the women's plaintiff's assistant writes in the appeal and points out that it was not a passive hand on the women's thighs, but on active touches.
The women's litigation counsel demands that Eskil Erlandsson be sentenced to two cases of sexual harassment and pay damages to the women, as well as pay their legal costs.