Swedish prosecutors have requested significant prison sentences for Ian Lundin, former CEO of Lundin Oil (now Orron Energy), and Alex Schneiter, former Vice President, for their alleged complicity in war crimes in Sudan between 1999 and 2003. Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year sentence for Lundin and a 6-year sentence for Schneiter. The charges stem from the company's oil exploration in Sudan's "Block 5A" (now South Sudan), where it's alleged that Lundin Oil entered agreements making the Sudanese military responsible for security, knowing this would lead to military force to control the area. This has led to the prosecutors asking the court to place them in custody pending the verdict due to flight risk concerns, as both are Swiss citizens and cannot be extradited from Switzerland.
According to the prosecution, the military, aided by allied militias, conducted offensive operations to secure the area for Lundin Oil's exploration after oil was discovered in 1999. These operations allegedly included aerial bombardments, shooting civilians from helicopter gunships, abducting civilians, plundering villages, and burning crops. During this period, an estimated 12,000 people died and 180,000 were displaced, with entire villages destroyed or subjected to starvation tactics. Prosecutors emphasize that the company's pursuit of profit led to the complete destruction of many civilian lives.
The trial, which commenced in September 2023 and is reportedly the longest in Swedish legal history, followed a more than decade-long investigation yielding an 80,000-page report. Both Lundin and Schneiter have denied the charges, asserting that there was no relationship between the company and the Sudanese government as claimed by the prosecution. This case is seen as potentially precedent-setting, aiming to hold powerful companies and their representatives accountable for complicity in severe crimes. A verdict is expected toward the end of December 2026, with a lengthy appeals process anticipated regardless of the outcome.
