Norway's Økokrim rejects defense claims in diplomat corruption probe

Norway's economic crime agency, Økokrim, has rejected assertions by defense counsel John Christian Elden minimizing the corruption probe into former diplomats Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen. First State Prosecutor Marianne Bender confirmed the high-priority investigation is far more extensive than claimed and faces delays while awaiting formal responses from US authorities.

Investigators are also scrutinizing an Oslo apartment linked to the couple. Juul is charged with gross corruption, while Rød-Larsen faces complicity charges; both deny criminal wrongdoing. Rød-Larsen recently expressed remorse over his past connection to Jeffrey Epstein, stating, "Jeg beklager i dag dypt det forholdet jeg hadde til Epstein," and acknowledging he should have severed ties earlier.

Sources: Aftenposten, Dagens Næringsliv, Finansavisen, NRK, TV 2 Nyheter