Swedish court to rehear case of former security adviser over lost classified files

Henrik Langerholm, who served as Sweden's national security adviser, left confidential documents in an unlocked safe at a course centre near Stockholm in March 2023; a janitor subsequently found the papers. Attunda tingsrätt confirmed the information had been disclosed and could have harmed national security, but concluded Langerholm's lapse was simple negligence, not gross, and acquitted him last September. Prosecutors Mats Ljungqvist criticised the decision as “strange,” noting that a routine check of the safe would have prevented the exposure.

In their appeal, they argue that Langerholm's disregard for security protocols, given his senior role, amounts to gross negligence and request a significant fine. The appellate hearing is being held in the premises of Stockholms tingsrätt and is expected to finish next week. Langerholm resigned from his advisory post when the investigation began in January 2025.