In a quiet municipal office in central Sweden, a significant decision was made in 2020: a teacher, who we’ll refer to as John, agreed to part ways with his position, effective immediately. In exchange for his premature departure, he received a package amounting to ten months of salary—nearly 400,000 kronor.
The circumstances leading to this decision stemmed from a concerning discovery. A colleague at his school had searched for John’s name on Lexbase, a legal database that allows users to pay for information regarding court judgments involving individuals.
What followed uncovered deep secrets.
### Departure Under a Cloud of Accusations
The legal papers indicated a tumultuous history. John had previously asserted his innocence in a case where he sought compensation for time spent in custody. However, the same documents unveiled serious allegations against him: that he had filmed 21 children in a sauna at a summer camp where he served as a leader.
One of the plaintiffs in the case, identified as “Ken,” recounted the atmosphere at the camp, saying, “We were just hanging out, enjoying our time like a group of eight-year-old boys. When we were done, we would find the laptop waiting outside.” Ken further explained, “The camera was hidden in the sauna; it felt like watching a movie with yourself in it.”
The Chancellor of Justice’s ruling was clear: there would be no compensation for John. They noted that his decision to hide abroad was a blatant attempt to evade justice. Ultimately, prosecutors had no choice but to drop the charges, as John could not be served.
John maintains his innocence, insisting that his time abroad was unrelated to the allegations. He sought compensation for the time spent in custody, as well as for the camera confiscated by police. He was awarded a meager 5,000 kronor.
### A Veil of Secrecy
An investigation by SVT discovered that multiple legal databases, including Lexbase, have a history of removing judges’ names from public records following convictions.
In a striking turn, John also filed a lawsuit against Lexbase, demanding redress for his job loss and seeking the removal of all records relating to the summer camp incident. The lawsuit was later withdrawn when both parties came to an undisclosed agreement. Neither Lexbase nor John has been forthcoming about the specifics of this settlement.
Gunnar Axén, the publisher responsible at Lexbase, declined to comment, stating, “I don’t really see the point in discussing this. Our settlements are confidential,” he told SVT.
John similarly refused an interview. He continues to assert that he did not film any children and contests that Lexbase complied with his demands, stating firmly, “I completely deny that any judgment should have been removed.”
Today, John has assumed a new identity, complete with updated teaching credentials that align with this fresh persona. Meanwhile, the records detailing his alleged actions have been wiped from Lexbase.
As Ken now reflects on the situation, he expresses a lingering concern: “The hardest part is knowing that even today, he is still allowed to be close to children.”
