The man was arrested on Thursday, but the day before he contacted Christian Wiig, who is now defending him, according to Address newspaper.
– I was asked if I could assist with a difficult case. I was told that my client could have supported himself with the bank’s money. We made an agreement that he should come to my office next Monday at 2 p.m., says Wiig.
According to the defender, the man knew that he could be discovered.
– He wanted assistance to negotiate with the bank to avoid reporting and arrest by the police, says Wiig.
Before the meeting with the lawyer could take place, the man was arrested.
Pleads guilty
He is charged with gross embezzlement and money laundering from Sparebank 1 SMN.
– Preliminary investigations show that there may be several tens of millions of kroner involved, the bank stated on Saturday.
The man has pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody for two weeks on Saturday.
ADMITS CRIMINAL GUILTY: Lawyer Christian Wiig represents the accused man, who pleads guilty. Photo: Lise Åserud/NTB
Wiig states that the punishable conditions have been going on for just over a month. The client has worked as a temporary worker at the bank, on and off for two or three years, in a subordinate clerical position, according to the defender.
Roommate charged
On Sunday, the police have also chosen to charge the man’s partner in his 20s. This is confirmed by the police VG.
– She was arrested, but released after a short time after the police received further information in the case. The charge is formally maintained until the case is legally dismissed. The police do not want to go into this in more detail at the present time, says police attorney Ole Andreas Aftret.
Defense attorney Kolbjørn Lium says he believes the charges against the woman will soon be dropped.
Was contacted earlier
To NRK says Wiig that the bank discovered that something was wrong some time ago.
– He received an inquiry from the bank’s internal control, probably in the middle of Christmas. They asked about certain things that were not quite right. He says that perhaps he should have been stopped by the bank then, he tells the channel.
The bank does not wish to comment on the information.
– The case was uncovered thanks to internal routines and control systems. I can’t be more specific than that, says executive director Rolf Jarle Brøske at Sparebank 1 SMN.
