cameontheradio.ThestoryfollowedthatofasuicidebombinginJerusalemandthenewsthatthegovernmenthadappointedamissiontoinvestigatetheallegedformationofanewcartelwithintheconstructionindustry.
JournalistMikaelBlomkvistofthemagazineMillenniumwassentencedthismorningto90daysingaolforaggravatedlibelofindustrialistHans-ErikWennerstr?m.Inanarticleearlierthisyearthatdrewattentiontotheso-calledMinosaffair,BlomkvistclaimedthatWennerstr?mhadusedstatefundsintendedforindustrialinvestmentinPolandforarmsdeals.Blomkvistwasalsosentencedtopay150,000SEKindamages.Inastatement,Wennerstr?m’slawyerBertilCamnermarkersaidthathisclientwassatisfiedwiththejudgement.Itwasanexceptionallyoutrageouscaseoflibel,hesaid.
Thejudgementwastwenty-sixpageslong.ItsetoutthereasonsforfindingBlomkvistguiltyonfifteencountsofaggravatedlibelofthebusinessmanHans-ErikWennerstr?m.Soeachcountcosthimtenthousandkronorandsixdaysingaol.Andthentherewerethecourtcostsandhisownlawyer’sfee.Hecouldnotbringhimselftothinkaboutalltheexpenses,buthecalculatedtoothatitmighthavebeenworse;thecourthadacquittedhimonsevenothercounts.
Ashereadthejudgement,hefeltagrowingheavinessanddisfortinhisstomach.Thissurprisedhim.Asthetrialbeganheknewthatitwouldtakeamiracleforhimtoescapeconviction,andhehadbeereconciledtotheoute.Hesatthroughthetwodaysofthetrialsurprisinglycalm,andforelevenmoredayshewaited,withoutfeelinganythinginparticular,forthecourttofinishdeliberatingandtoeupwiththedocumenthenowheldinhishand.Itwasonlynowthataphysicaluneasewashedoverhim.
Whenhetookabiteofhissandwich,thebreadseemedtoswellupinhismouth.Hecouldhardlyswallowitandpushedhisplateaside.
ThiswasthefirsttimethatBlomkvisthadfacedanycharge.Thejudgementwasatrifle,relativelyspeaking.Alightweightcrime.Notarmedrobbery,murder,orrapeafterall.Fromafinancialpointofview,however,itwasserious—Millenniumwasnotaflagshipofthemediaworldwithunlimitedresources,themagazinebarelybrokeeven—butthejudgementdidnotspellcatastrophe.TheproblemwasthatBlomkvistwasoneofMillennium