"Lundin lawyers: African witnesses cannot be trusted & War crimes investigation must be closed down because it violates human rights", 23 April 2020

...Swedish prosecutor Henrik Attorps said that the Lundin investigation is coming to a close. “We hope to be able to send final notice shortly.”

...Mr Attorps’ statement followed Lundin’s defence lawyers’ formal request to close down the investigation because it violates Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, by which everyone has the right to a hearing within a reasonable time, beginning on the day on which a person is charged. In the Lundin case that would be 2016, when Ian Lundin and Alex Schneiter were first questioned as suspects. Decisive factors for a reasonable time are the complexity of the case, and the applicant’s and the judicial authorities conduct.

The legal merit of the request is not apparent. If applicants resort to actions that are likely to delay the proceedings, an appeal based on the European Convention will not hold...

...Lundin Energy has hired criminal defense lawyer Steven Kay... ccording to Mr Kay, witnesses from “countries like South Sudan” must be scrutinized more than European witnesses because “They are not used to our legal system” and Africans are more susceptible to lie for money. He argues that African victims of abuses who may benefit from a conviction are less reliable witnesses that Europeans because they are poorer.