Innlandet former employee pleads guilty to 5.5 million NOK embezzlement

A former municipal employee in Innlandet, Norway, has pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly 5.5 million NOK intended for refugee services. The defendant, a man in his 50s, admitted to the charges during a trial at the Hedmarken og Østerdal District Court.

According to prosecutors, the individual diverted over 5.2 million NOK to various bank cards under his control between January 2023 and October 2025. Additionally, he used municipal accounts to pay over 200,000 NOK in private bills. The prosecution noted that the crime involved significant breach of trust and the use of forged signatures to facilitate the theft. The defendant had previously fled the country after the municipality reported the suspected fraud but has since returned to face the legal system.