A well-known TV4 journalist is charged with buying sexual services in November 2023, but claims the meeting with the woman was a journalistic assignment to follow up a tip. TV4 bosses support his version and say they knew about the plan in advance. The prosecutor, however, believes the evidence points to a crime.
In November 2023, a seasoned TV4 profile is suspected of meeting a prostitute in an apartment north of Stockholm. According to the indictment, he paid 2,000 kronor for sexual intercourse, but the profile denies the crime and states he contacted the woman via an escort site to undercover follow up a tip about a company executive who possibly assaulted a prostitute.
The profile cleared the plan with TV4 bosses in advance. One boss instructed him not to pay money, not to be alone with the woman, and to prefer a public place. Despite this, they met in the apartment, took a 15–20 minute walk where he introduced himself as a journalist, but got no information. He later reported back to the boss that the tip led nowhere.
The bosses believe the profile's version and state in interrogations that it is common for journalists to independently follow up tips, even from prostitutes or gangs. 'As far as we know, the journalist sought out a person he believed would provide information,' says one boss. Another boss compares it to the undercover investigation 'Undercover in the Troll Factory' and says it is not always advantageous to disclose the journalistic role from the start.
The evidence includes the profile withdrawing 2,000 kronor in cash that day, text messages where he wrote about a 'thing for girls in training clothes' and requested tights, and the woman saving his number in her phone as 'knullade länge' or 'Nice little chubby Swedish man (age) fucked for a long time.' The woman denies any interview or walk and says: 'I really don't usually write that if I haven't met them.' She admits she names most people she has met.
Prosecutor Kristoffer Kågström considers the evidence clear and expects a conviction, even if the purpose was journalistic. The profile explains the cash as for possible photos from the tip and the tights request as to ensure clothing and appear as a legitimate buyer. His lawyer Henrik Olsson Lilja calls the indictment 'unreasonable' and claims it was a journalistic assignment. The question of who paid the lawyer remains, with TV4 referring to confidentiality.
