Revelations about exclusive benefits and hunting trips were the starting shots for the so-called SCA scandal in 2014. In the wake of it, a power struggle followed in the Handelsbanken sphere where it went so far that the bank's chairman Pär Boman was forced to live with bodyguards for a while.

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Death threats and espionage during the change of power in the Handelsbanken sphere

Information about attempts at bugging, data intrusion and a threat against the bank's chairman Pär Boman was taken very seriously by Säpo.

Since some banks have a so-called “system-critical function in society”, this type of event is regarded as a matter of national security.

- Several security companies performed physical surveillance of Boman, ie spies.

There were also serious threats against him and his family.

It was really, really dirty, says a source with good insight into the power struggle to Assignment review.

Ex-military among the monitors

When Handelsbanken launched a counter-investigation, they managed to capture some of the men - who they thought were behind the espionage of Boman and others in the sphere - in the picture.

In several cases, their identities could be ascertained.

It is ex-military, doormen and a former Säpo agent who work as security consultants.   

- The most interesting thing was that several individuals also had clear relationships with organized crime.

I could see one of the well-known groupings in Stockholm being part of these structures, the source says.

GW: Very criminalized

Joakim Söderström, CEO of the organization Security Industry, says that they exist to protect, help and put things right - and to combat crime.

- To then get involved in this type of power struggle between high business representatives, then we have gone from the purpose to why we exist.

That's not what we should do.

And if this has happened, it is totally unacceptable.

Leif GW Persson, professor of criminology, also takes seriously the information about attempts at bugging and data intrusion:

- It is absolutely very criminalized, partly for the reasons that apply to everyone, but it is also criminalized in relation to their role, their activities.

In what way then, do you mean?  

- They risk losing their rights as a security company if they have any.

"Do not want to deepen that question"

Two sources with direct insight confirm for Assignment review that the reconnaissance against Pär Boman 2015 was carried out by a security company hired by the forestry company SCA. 

- I have no knowledge of that at all, says SCA's communications manager Björn Lyngfelt.

Today, Pär Boman does not want to comment on the details of the threat against him. 

- I do not want to deepen that issue because it comes so close to my family and I have made a promise.

I would break it if I developed the subject.

See the full review in the series "The Bank and the Brotherhood" - the first two episodes are already available on SVT Play.