In March 2022, Norran reported on Christoph Svahn, a seemingly successful businessman who had plans to return to his hometown of Malå and invest in the community. These plans included purchasing and renovating properties in central Malå, developing Tjamstan, and renovating the local swimming facility.
In May 2022, Svahn acquired a vacation home in Nölviken and officially registered as a resident of Malå municipality. In June 2022, it was announced that Svahn had founded Norrkronan AB, a company described as being involved in property ownership and management, investment in businesses and stocks, securities trading, and related activities.
While the renovation work on the properties commenced, several projects were left unfinished. Workers who spoke with Norran revealed that they had worked for months without receiving their promised wages, and Malå municipality had yet to receive full rent payments.
Svahn's presence in Malå became increasingly infrequent, but he later gained media attention in connection with a legal dispute known as the Tobo case near Uppsala. Numerous individuals from Malå reached out to Norran, expressing concerns and providing tips, indicating that many were affected by these events. It became evident that several individuals felt deceived, and only a fraction of the originally proposed plans had come to fruition.
Norran reporters made repeated efforts to secure an interview with Christoph Svahn, allowing him the opportunity to address the criticism. However, Svahn consistently attempted to delay the publication by canceling scheduled interviews at short notice and exerting personal and indirect pressure. As Norran's publisher, I take these actions very seriously.
Our obligation extends beyond serving an individual company leader; it is our duty to our readers and the general public to provide an account of the progress of the plans presented over a year ago. This responsibility is especially important for the residents of Malå and the foreign carpenters who found themselves in a vulnerable position and feel exploited. We are committed to seeking transparency and clarity in this matter.
Christoph Svahn is involved in approximately 40 companies, and as the owner of Svahn Holding AB, he ultimately bears responsibility.
Therefore, we have chosen to disclose his name and image. I am pleased that Christoph finally decided to respond to our questions and provide his perspective on the events that have unfolded.