A prominent TV4 journalist has been on trial for buying sexual services from a prostitute, but he claims the meeting was an interview with a source. The trial at Attunda District Court concluded on Monday, and the case is seen as a trust damage for TV4 regardless of the outcome. The analysis highlights dilemmas around source protection and security practices.
The trial against the prominent TV4 journalist took place at Attunda District Court on Monday. The charges concern suspicions of buying sex, based on details in the woman's phone where the man is described as "a nice man who has long intercourse." Police also noted an SMS conversation arranging a meeting, a forwarded price list for sexual services, and that the journalist withdrew cash on the same day as the visit.
The journalist denies the crime and invokes source protection. He explains that he received a tip about a business executive who had prostitutes in the office and that the woman might have information. To arrange a meeting, he posed as a potential client; they talked during a short walk, but the tip was not pursued. Due to source protection, he cannot reveal the conversation's content. He discussed the plan with a TV4 boss, which is confirmed by two high-ranking news organization chiefs in interrogations.
The woman testified, however, that she does not remember meeting any journalist. The analysis emphasizes that there is no good outcome for TV4: either the journalist is innocent but the channel has handled sources sloppily, or an employee who bought sex has been protected by management. Both scenarios damage trust in the channel, according to SVT investigative reporter Joachim Voss Sundell.
