The company behind plans for a windfarm in Aberdeen Bay has been rocked by another boardroom scandal – after police arrested one of its executives.
Jan Ake Jonsson has quit his job at Vattenfall after being taken into custody on suspicion of being involved in tax crimes.
He exited just weeks after the firm launched an investigation into claims that another board member – its chief executive – took a bribe.
The company, which is owned by the Swedish government, was granted planning permission to build the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in March.
The joint venture would consist of 11 turbines less than two miles from the coastline at Aberdeen.
However, since the plan was formally backed by SNP ministers it has been beset by problems.
Mr Jonsson – the former head of Saab Automobile – was arrested on Thursday and later bailed.
If found guilty, he faces four years in prison.
The 61-year-old and two other former Saab executives are being investigated for their roles in allegedly obstructing the tax authorities’ review of the company’s affairs during 2010 and 2011.
The Swedish ministry of finance announced Mr Jonsson’s departure from the Vattenfall board yesterday.
A spokeswoman said Mr Jonsson would be welcomed back if the allegations against him were found to be false.
An independent inquiry is being conducted into Vattenfall chief executive officer Oystein Loseth amid “rumours” that he pocketed extra cash from an acquisition in 2009.
One of Sweden’s best-known lawyers – Christer Danielsson – is leading the probe.
Mr Loseth has said he welcomed the investigation, which will examine whether he received “extra remuneration” when Vattenfall acquired Dutch company Nuon.
Vattenfall is also in the process of axing projects and cutting 2,500 jobs.
The firm said in March that it needs to save £450million over the next two years.
It has since put its stake in the EOWDC up for sale.
Vattenfall declined to comment on the arrest last night.
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