The World - News from June 22, 1988

The Swedish government filed smuggling charges against four former directors of Bofors AB, the country’s largest weapons manufacturer. The four are accused of selling 300 anti-aircraft missiles to Bahrain and Dubai in 1979 and 1980 in violation of Swedish export regulations barring arms sales to volatile regions. Those charged after a four-year investigation were two former managing directors, Claes-Ulrik Winberg and Marting Ardbo, a former sales director, Lennart Palsson, and Hans Ekblom, who had headed the export division. The case is expected to come to trial later this year. If convicted, the defendants could face prison terms ranging from six months to six years.