Mona Juul and her husband Terje Rød-Larsen, a senior politician, appear in documents surrounding the late, convicted Jeffrey Epstein. Among other things, it emerged that Epstein wanted to bequeath ten million dollars, equivalent to about 90 million Swedish kronor, to the couple's two children.
We have opened a preliminary investigation to determine whether criminal acts have been committed, says Pål Lønseth, head of the Norwegian Economic Crime Authority, to NRK, and warns that the work will take time.
We are facing a comprehensive and, by all accounts, lengthy investigation.
Police searched an apartment in Oslo on Monday. According to Norwegian media, Juul and Rød-Larsen bought an apartment in the same district, Frogner, in 2018 with the help of Epstein.
Mona Juul, one of Norway's best-known diplomats, resigned on Sunday as ambassador to Iraq and Jordan. She has previously served as Norway's ambassador to the UN, among other roles.
The publication of the investigation into American financier Epstein has led to former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland also being investigated by the Norwegian Economic Crime Authority. Former minister and now World Economic Forum leader Børge Brende is being criticized for contacts with Epstein.
On Monday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's Labour Party took the initiative for an external investigation into Norwegian ties to Epstein, reports Norwegian VG.
What has emerged is serious, Støre tells the newspaper.
The Labour Party believes that it is right to have an investigative commission appointed by the Storting to ensure an independent review.
