Norwegian bank starts investigations on damaging leaks

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Princess Märtha Louise’s bank statements were reportedly leaked to celebrity magazine Se og Hør. PHOTO: HĂ…KON MOSVOLD LARSEN/SCANPIX Details of Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s shopping trips have reportedly also been leaked to Se og Hør. PHOTO: DAG W. GRUNDSETH

*”The Norwegian branch of Nordic bank Nordea vows a full investigation into how bank account statements for Princess Martha Louise and other celebrities wound up in the hands of reporters at magazine Se og Hør.

 The bank, regulators and other media are crying foul after newspaper Dagens Næringsliv reported over the weekend that the royal bank account statements were leaked to the magazine. It’s the latest in a string of revelations about reporting techniques at Se og Hør, most of which have been revealed in a new book by a former staff writer at the magazine.

Håvard Melnæs wrote in his book about his years at Se og Hør (See and Hear) that the magazine has had paid informants placed within the police, credit card companies, banks, travel agencies and other institutions. They supplied the magazine with information that was supposed to be confidential.

That’s how the magazine could report back in the 2001, for example, that the young woman who was about to become Crown Princess Mette-Marit had gone on a shopping spree in New York, spending large amounts at such pricey designer shops as Vera Wang, Donna Karan and Gucci. The magazine had gained access to Mette-Marit’s VISA card statement.

The magazine also reportedly was supplied with bank statements that showed Princess Märtha-Louise’s spending activity, also while on overseas trips.

“If this is correct, it’s very serious,” assistant information chief Rune Sjøhelle of Nordea told Dagens Næringsliv. “We will launch an internal investigation immediately.”

He said Nordea will first do its own investigation, before going to the police. “All of our employees who have access to private accounts have had to sign confidentiality agreements,” Sjøhelle said. “Taking statements from private accounts definitely violates those agreements.”

No special security
Account information for members of the royal family or other public officials or celebrities isn’t subject to any stricter security controls, meaning that anyone dealing in customer service at the bank can have access to the accounts. Nordea has nearly 4,000 employees in Norway.

Sjøhelle said it’s possible to track who may have accessed the accounts, but that it may be difficult to track such information if the access occurred many years ago. Other banks in Norway have much the same practice as Nordea, meanwhile, with all customer service employees able to access all accounts.

Releasing any information from them, though, not only is grounds for fire, but also violates state privacy laws. That’s why Norway’s financial regulatory agency Kredittilsynet is also keen on investigating the issue.

Palace officials, meanwhile, are staying mum. “We have chosen not to comment on this at all,” said Astrid Versto, information chief at the palace.”*

By Nina Berglund

*”/”*Lifted and published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 032 99 739 or +47 6300 2525, source.aftenpostenENG

“I don’t despise the social benefits, but the idea of misusing them that bothers me the most

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There is this thing about social services or social benefits which bothers me sometimes. I do not know what others think of it. I would like to hear their opinion on the matter.
I will base my observations on what goes on in Finland as my country of resident. I think it is a great idea that in Finland the social benefits are remarkable and no discrimination, as long as one has the right status.

What bothers me, is the fact that if one goes to work, especially those with low income jobs like cleaning, the person sitting at home may end up earning more than the hard working cleaner.

One pays taxes, and all your bills including day cares which are public. The unemployed person is free from struggling to get rent, daycare payments and the like because of the benefits that rescues them.

Trust me, I admire the fact that everyone is taken care of through these services, unlike in my home country. But at the same time, this is causing too much  unemployment because some would prefer to remain unemployed and cash in on the free benefits .

I do not blame the ones staying at home, because they have to make their calculations well before they take up any job in this country.
Many Finns here prefer to go to study rather than go to work, and earn peanuts with all the taxes and bills. At the same time, the typical Finns do not like rubbing shoulders with immigrants in these financial benefit offices!

It is okay for  us to go to work and pay the taxes for them to enjoy the benefits, but it is not okay for an immigrant to get these benefits. Well, these are only the common Finns who think that way, but they cannot change the immigrant rights.
All I am saying is that it is a very good way to take care of the sick and the old who can’t work, but the negative thing about it is that even healthy young people are choosing to misuse these services by completely becoming lazy and useless to the society.
The Finns are so proud of these benefits that they think all the immigrants here are attracted by that when they choose to get to their country and live on benefits! In fact if one meets a Finn for the first time, the first question will mostly be “so, what do you do for a living”.

If you have a job then the introduction continues! If you don’t the most mean ones will tell  you “our social services are fantastic here”!.

I know that Kenyans believe in hard work, and I have seen that here too, the ones not having full time jobs are in school, and doing part time jobs.

It is good to try and study, including the native language that is the only way people can be good role models to their children .

Just for the record. I don’t despise the social benefits, but the idea of misusing them is what bothers me the most. People, if interested will always find something to do to make a decent living.
 

By Esther, Finland,

Published by African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no, tel +47 93299 739 or +47 6300 2525