Danish government backs probe into spy chief scandal

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Denmark’s government backed on Friday opposition calls for an investigation into the case of a former spy chief accused of leaking state secrets.

In a book published this week and partly written in custody, ex-foreign intelligence unit head Lars Findsen said the government unfairly suspended him in 2020 for political motives.

“We need broad political trust in the work of the intelligence agencies and if distrust arises, we think it’s sensible to establish an investigative commission,” Justice Minister Mattias Tesfaye told local broadcaster TV 2.

A majority of parties now support a parliamentary probe.

In a security scandal roiling the Nordic country, Findsen spent two months at the start of this year in custody, where he partly wrote “The spy chief – Memories from cell 18”.

Prior to his arrest in December, Findsen was suspended over accusations of wrongdoings from an independent board overseeing the unit. He says the government attempted to avoid a scandal by putting him and other employees at the agency on furlough.

Last month, the state prosecutor charged him with passing state secrets to six people including two journalists over the course of 16-17 months. Findsen denies wrongdoing.

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