In the first season of "The Black Swan", which was broadcast last year, lawyer Amira Smajic appeared as a mole for investigative journalists on Danish TV2. With the help of hidden cameras, connections between Denmark's elite and the underworld were revealed.
In the week, two new episodes were broadcast and it appears that Smajic was at the same time an informant for the Danish National Police, NSK. According to TV2, she has during visits to the editorial office both stolen content from a hard drive belonging to a journalist and photographed a journalist's notes. This has since been handed over to NSK.
”Is shocking”
That the police actively participate and do not stop espionage against the media is shocking, comments Allan Boye Thulstrup, chairman of the Danish Journalists' Union.
TV2 has also published a recording where two employees of NSK can be heard urging Amira Smajic to lie, when she is to be questioned in an investigation into fraud. She is urged to say that she does not remember anything due to tablet abuse. It was also how she answered when she was later questioned.
NSK chief Lasse Boje has not wanted to comment on the information and has neither confirmed nor denied that Smajic acted as an informant to the police.
Will be investigated
”Overall, I can however say that I do not recognize the picture that TV2 gives of the police's working methods, where the police is described as both norm- and boundaryless”, says the police chief according to a written statement.
The information will now be investigated by a special unit within the police.
Danish Minister of Justice has so far only commented on them in writing:
”I understand very well that the documentary gives reason for critical questions. It is serious accusations”, writes Peter Hummelgaard (S) to the news agency Ritzau.
