The three individuals were arrested after searches were conducted at private addresses, according to multiple reports. The case involves procurement of consulting services from a company owned by one of the accused leaders. The procurement included hiring the accused leader to FMA, followed by amendment agreements and extension of his consulting services. The procurement was handled by the accused department director and the other accused leader.
Økokrim believes the hourly rate for consulting services was increased by 35 percent, in violation of the original contract and procurement rules, according to multiple reports. After the rate increase, one leader is said to have left FMA and then started as a consultant in the same company.
Searches were conducted at private addresses today and three people were arrested. We are continuously assessing whether the grounds for pre-trial detention are present.
One accused person owns a consulting company established in 2025, which had a reported income of 4.1 million kroner during the year. The company has not reported having any employees. Correspondence between FMA and the company shows contact as recently as February regarding possible project manager consulting assistance.
The case was discovered through an internal control in FMA, then reviewed by their internal audit, which recommended contacting Økokrim. Økokrim received information from Forsvarsmateriell and started the investigation this year. The case is being treated as one joint criminal case, according to Adresseavisen, which quoted police prosecutor Carl Johan Løken.
We are treating this as one joint criminal case.
The accused are considered innocent until a possible verdict, but all have been stripped of their authorizations. The charge of gross economic unfaithfulness carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison. The Progress Party demands that Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik (Ap) account to the Storting after the arrests. According to NRK Nyheter, deputy leader Hans Andreas Limi said that cases of economic unfaithfulness have been uncovered and that the defense minister must assure the Storting that the government has economic control and security systems to prevent misuse of public funds.
Gro Jære, Director of FMA, said in a press release that this is a very demanding situation both for those involved and for FMA. She added that out of consideration for the investigation and for the three individuals involved, no further information will be given now.
If people in trusted positions in the defense sector exploit this, it can weaken a completely fundamental societal function.
Cases of economic unfaithfulness have been uncovered. Then the defense minister must come to the Storting and assure that the government has economic control and that they have the necessary security systems to prevent misuse of public funds.