The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched an investigation related to "issues described in the company's internal investigation into Iraq from 2019.", Ericsson writes in a press release.
The company further states that it is too early to decide or predict the outcome of the investigation, but states that it "cooperates fully" with the authority.
Suspected of bribery
At the beginning of 2022, Uppdrag granskning, in collaboration with the journalist network ICIJ, was able to reveal how the Islamic State demanded money from Ericsson to conduct operations in IS-controlled areas.
According to information, this was a sum of SEK 20 million.
Through intermediaries, an agreement was reached with the terrorist sect - then the company could continue with its operations.
In February, the company itself admitted that serious violations of rules and business ethics were discovered in an internal investigation into the company's operations in Iraq.
In an interview with Dagen industri, the company's CEO Börje Ekholm stated that employees may have bribed IS to be able to transport equipment through areas that were controlled by the terrorist organization.
"What we see is that transport routes have been bought through areas that have been controlled by terrorist organizations, including ISIS.
We do not have the possibilities we have been able to determine who is the final recipient of these payments ", sahan to Di.
Investigated by the National Unit against Corruption
Prosecutors at the National Unit against Corruption have previously initiated a preliminary investigation following the revelations about the suspected bribery offenses.
Ericsson has previously also been contacted by the US Department of Justice, which criticizes the company for not informing the authority about the internal investigations that Assignment Review revealed.