Left Party lawmaker takes leave over suspected election fraud

A Left Party politician has taken a leave of absence after an investigation into suspected election fraud in Borlänge, SVT reports. Mohamed Abdukardir Ali, 30, was elected to parliament, while fellow Left Party politician Ahmed Abas Omar is on course to win the top position in the municipal election.

The investigation began after an anonymous report of suspected election fraud in Dalarna. Police carried out surveillance in Borlänge and allegedly followed vehicles transporting voters to and from polling stations.

According to information obtained by SVT and reported by other media, police also observed people carrying Left Party ballot papers with a candidate’s name already marked. They allegedly tried to persuade voters to use the pre-marked ballots.

Police also documented cash withdrawals from an ATM and observed the same person later handing out money and ballot papers to voters, according to Aftonbladet. It has not been established what the money was intended for.

The surveillance material was submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Unit on September 1. A preliminary investigation into improper influence in voting was opened but later closed because the evidence was considered insufficient at the time.

The investigation was reopened on Monday after new information was received.

Ali denied any involvement when contacted by SVT on Monday. Neither he nor Omar is currently suspected of a crime.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Left Party announced that Ali would take a leave of absence and would not serve as a member of parliament when the parliamentary term begins because of the ongoing investigation.

“We have agreed that Mohamed Abdukardir Ali will take a leave of absence and will not serve as a member of parliament from the beginning of the term because of the ongoing investigation into election fraud,” party secretary Maria Forsberg said in a statement.

SVT said it had sought comment from Ahmed Abas Omar.