Free visits to sex clubs
Two top Defense brass had two trips to sex clubs in Amsterdam - the bill was picked up by a company dealing in military electronics. Business partners paid for Defense trips to Amsterdam's Red Light District. PHOTO: AP Former Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold. PHOTO: Gorm Kallestad / SCANPIX |
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Financial daily Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian) reports that the sex club visits are detailed in the classified 277-page report from the Dalseide Commission, the second governmental look at spending practices in the military.
Two people at management level in military electronics company Thales Norway invited two top Defense figures to Amsterdam's Red Light District in March 2003 in connection with the completion of a contract.
The Dalseide-2 report lists costs of NOK 7,000 (USD 1,295) for two visits to sex clubs, including dinner and drinks, that were paid for by Thales Norway. The report criticizes the Defense participation in the outings and categorizes the value of the benefits received as excessive.
The report also lists Thales payments for trips to Paris, salmon fishing in Orkla, annual summer boat trips and Christmas parties for Defense brass. According to Thales, the total of such expenses to Defense staff from 2000-2006 totaled NOK 2.6 million (USD 480,500).
Thales Norway has not been charged in the corruption case against the Norwegian military being investigated by special economic crimes unit Økokrim.
Peter Andre Moe, leader of the Union of Norwegian Officers (in Norwegian), feels that the culture of corruption in the military can be a legacy of the egocentric, macho culture that flourished during Kristin Krohn Devold's stint as Defense Minister, from 2001-2005 in the Bondevik 2 government.
"The attitude of the military leadership and the Defense Ministry then was that it was most important to listen to yourself or your closest hand-picked colleagues, but not to the people in the military," Moe told newspaper Dagsavisen (in Norwegian).
Krohn Devold herself had to repay about NOK 4,500 (USD 830) last year after overbilling for travel expenses during her time as Minister of Defense.
Moe believes it is now time for an overhaul and that Chief of Defense Sverre Diesen must take responsibility.
"I demand that the Chief of Defense be made responsible, as top ranking leader. If he is capable of cleaning up, he must demonstrate it, aggressively. If not, then I am afraid others will have to do it," Moe said.
Sverre Diesen would not comment, and Krohn Devold, now head of the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT), was unavailable for comment.
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