Sweden Probes Saab Payments to Chairman Muller

Sweden's Financial Crimes Unit says it intends to question former Saab Automobile Chairman Victor Muller in connection with a criminal investigation of tax accounting at the defunct carmaker.

Sweden says Muller is not accused of any wrongdoing. Muller tells The Wall Street Journal he has not been contacted by Swedish authorities about the probe, which has resulted in the arrests of Saab's former CEO, CFO and general counsel.

Former General Counsel Kristina Geers tells Swedish Radio that prosecutors are questioning 10 invoices for consulting fees that they contend should have been recorded as salary. She says that arrangement had been approved previously by the Swedish Debt Office.

Last year the Swedish Tax Agency demanded Muller pay an additional €236,000 in taxes because Saab compensated him for his work as chairman in 2010 and 2011 in the form of consulting fees. Muller says he paid the amount in November and is suing to reverse the agency's decision.

Svenska Dagbladet reports that the financial crimes unit is focusing on €690,000 that Saab paid to a Muller-owned company, Latin America Tug Holding NV, which is based in the tax heaven of the Netherlands Antilles.