Stigsson was arrested in early 2005 on suspicion of rape, spousal abuse and mishandling of top secret classified documents.

[2] While the above were the main charges, an incriminating factor in the case from the start has been Stigsson's interest in sado-masochistic sex practices which, together with his careless handling of secret documents, were considered a clear security risk by investigators.

The TV4 investigation contends that a combination of the senior officer's sexual behaviour and his handling of extremely sensitive military documents constituted a major national security risk.

When Stigsson was arrested in March 2005, police found explicit, and very deviant, pornographic material in the major general's uniform pockets as well as in his places of residence.

The risk of blackmail was further increased by the fact that Stigsson made contact with unknown persons on the Internet, with the intention of meeting them for group sex at swingers' clubs.

In an e-mail sent to a woman from his work address, he writes that he wanted to "test the limits", knowing that he was "always running the risk of finding myself in a blackmail situation".

In June 2006, chief prosecutor Ulf Forsberg in Uppsala decided not to press charges with Stigsson over negligence with regard to secret documents, a crime that is considered a threat to national security.

These included, for instance, notes and plans of secret mountain hideouts from which Sweden would be governed in wartime, as well as documents concerning the outcome of successful intelligence operations.