The man was arrested by police in Oslo on Monday as a suspect for gross corruption, which he denies. He was detained on Tuesday. The prosecutor at the Norwegian economic crime authority tells Norwegian media that the suspicions concern frauds worth around 50 million kronor.
The suspect works for Kirkens Nødhjelp, which operates on behalf of the Norwegian Church Council. The organization is largely financed by Norwegian aid funds, through the aid agency Norad.
An external review has shown that irregularities likely occurred, the aid organization announces in a press release, stating that the police were contacted immediately.
According to Norwegian media reports, the man holds a high-ranking position in the country where he works, but it is not clear which country. Kirkens Nødhjelp has operations in more than 30 countries and is part of the international aid cooperation Act, which also includes the Church of Sweden.
A year ago, it was revealed that millions of aid kronor had disappeared in an education project that Kirkens Nødhjelp conducted in Somalia, which was said to aim to keep young people away from pirate groups and extremism.
