NORSK FOLKEHJELPS PREMISES (Nettavisen): On Tuesday, the startling revelation emerged that Norwegian People’s Aid has identified an embezzlement scheme amounting to NOK 34 million at its Lebanon office.
The incident involves two foreign staff members, both of whom have since been dismissed, as confirmed in a statement from the organization.
– Disloyal Colleagues
In an interview with Nettavisen, Raymond Johansen, Secretary General of Norwegian People’s Aid, emphasized the gravity of the situation.
“There have been serious criminal acts, including the falsification of documents. This should never have happened, yet it did. We fell victim to two disloyal colleagues,” Johansen stated, reflecting on the betrayal.
Norwegian People’s Aid has duly reported the matter to Lebanese authorities. Given that the incident transpired overseas and involved foreign nationals, Økokrim, Norway’s national authority for investigating economic and environmental crime, lacks jurisdiction in this case.
Johansen expressed his deep concern about the implications of this embezzlement on public trust in the organization.
“I am genuinely worried about the damage to the trust that has now eroded. That’s why I am particularly concerned about the external investigation we will undertake,” he remarked.
Seeking External Expertise
Johansen acknowledged that the embezzlement should have been detected much earlier. Over the span of two years, the employees allegedly manipulated documents and siphoned funds from Norwegian People’s Aid’s resources.
When asked if he had contemplated his own position in light of the scandal, he responded candidly, “The first thing I did was inform the board and seek their confidence in me. They assured me of their support.”
To address these serious lapses, Norwegian People’s Aid has engaged PwC for a comprehensive external review of the organization’s oversight mechanisms.