The Norwegian who has been arrested for sharing state secrets, according to the ruling, said in interrogation that he has received money for information.
According to the ruling from the Oslo District Court, he must have received a “not insignificant amount of cash in return”. The man is now imprisoned for four weeks, two of them in complete isolation.
The ruling states that the accused through his job has access to sensitive information that is considered “secret” in the Penal Code.
– He does not admit criminal guilt, he has explained himself to the police, and is clear that he is willing to explain himself further to the police and willing to answer the questions they have to him, says the defender, lawyer Marianne Darre-Næss.
DEFENDANT: Lawyer Marianne Darre-Næss on her way out of Oslo courthouse. Photo: Odin Jæger
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Arrested at restaurant
The man accused of spying is in his 50s and lives in Eastern Norway. On Saturday, he was arrested at a restaurant in Oslo, without drama. The man must then have been in a meeting with what the Police Security Service (PST) believes is a Russian intelligence officer. According to PST, these have had several meetings with each other. The indictment states that the court believes that it is probable that the man understood who he was meeting.
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– We know that the accused in his position in Det Norske Veritas has had access to information that can be of great value to other parties, including other states. Then it will be up to the investigation to show what information he has shared with the Russian intelligence officer, says Line Nygaard, prosecutor in PST to VG.
According to the ruling of the Oslo District Court, the man has not acknowledged that “the information was suitable to harm national interests”.
The man in his 50s is so far the only accused in the case. Nygaard further says that it will be up to the investigation to show whether it will be necessary to take further steps against the Russian agent.
Close to the defense industry
Media director of DNV GL (formerly Det Norske Veritas) Per Wiggo Richardsen has confirmed to VG that the accused is employed by the company. For the time being, DNV cannot say anything about the accused’s position, or whether it was the company that notified PST.
According to VG’s information, the accused’s special field brings him into contact with the Norwegian defense industry and researchers in advanced defense technology.
PST has charged the man with violation of sections 123 and 124 of the Criminal Code, which deal with the disclosure of state secrets and gross disclosure of state secrets, respectively.
Violation of section 123 can be punished by a fine or up to three years’ imprisonment, while violation of section 124 can be punished by imprisonment for up to 15 years.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg has been informed about the case, but refers to PST for further comments.
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Commercial Cooperation: Discount Codes
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