A climate activist was convicted of disobedience to the authorities but was spared punishment, citing that he acted to protect the climate.
The Court of Appeal has now overturned the decision and sentenced the man to pay a fine.
In August 2022, climate activists blocked Kungsgatan in central Stockholm. One of them, a man in his 40s, was prosecuted and convicted of disobedience to the authorities after refusing to move on the police's orders.
The man denied the crime, citing necessity due to the ongoing climate crisis.
The Stockholm District Court convicted the man, but he was spared punishment. This was because, according to a divided court – the judge and one lay judge wanted to impose punishment – it would be "manifestly unfair", as climate change is a matter of "acute emergency".
The man acted, according to the court, because one of the "legally protected important interests" was at risk, with the aim of removing that danger. "Against this background, we believe it would be manifestly unfair to impose punishment", the court wrote.
The verdict was appealed to the Svea Court of Appeal, which made the same assessment as the district court regarding guilt and classification.
"The Court of Appeal believes, unlike the district court, that there are no grounds for waiving punishment. NN shall therefore be sentenced to a fine", the court wrote.
The man is now sentenced to pay 30 daily fines of 100 kronor each.
