Wickbom, who served Minister for Justice from 1983 to 1987, oversaw the investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme, which occurred on 28 February 1986, during his tenure. One year later, Wickbom left the government shortly after the escape of Stig Bergling, a former Swedish Security Service convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. It was rumored that Wickbom was forced to resign following Bergling's escape, which Wickbom denied.