NSM took out loans in violation of the Constitution – The Ministry of Justice did not follow up properly – E24

Both the National Security Authority (NSM) and the Ministry of Justice receive strong criticism from the National Audit Office.

– This is a very special case. The National Audit Office has never come across anything like this. It is already known that NSM has gone far beyond its powers, but the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Management has also not followed up the situation in NSM well enough. Both parts are worthy of criticism, says Auditor General Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen.

The National Audit Office concludes that it is highly objectionable that NSM entered into an illegal loan agreement to finance a future need for premises.

Violates the Constitution

– It violates both the Constitution and the Appropriation Regulations, states the National Audit Office.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness is criticized for not following up NSM’s move and the loan agreement to a sufficient extent.

In December last year, it became known that the National Security Authority (NSM) had a private loan agreement of NOK 200 million in connection with the lease of a new building at Fornebu.

Public agencies are not allowed to take out loans, and operations must be financed with grants from the Storting. Only the Storting can decide that the state should take out loans, according to the Constitution.

NSM director Sofie Nystrøm resigned the same day the agreement was announced.

– Deserved criticism

Leader of the Storting’s Control and Constitution Committee, Peter Frølich, believes the criticism in the MSN case is deserved.

– The Conservative Party believes this deserves criticism from the National Audit Office. The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Management has not had good enough control over MSN, he says.

– We expect Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl to take the criticism to heart and follow up on the National Audit Office’s conclusions, continues Frølich.

Rødt’s Seher Aydar, who also sits on the control committee, also expects the Minister of Justice to ensure a clean-up.

– Once again, it is emphasized how serious this matter is, and how extremely important it is that ministries follow up their subordinate agencies, and especially the secret services. The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness also has a responsibility in this case, because they have not done their job, says Aydar.