A Norwegian cruiseship captain has been indicted on charges of serious fraud and tax evasion, after collecting disability pay from Norway’s state pension fund over a period of eight years while also sailing from port to port as the captain on various cruiseships.
Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported on Thursday that an international warrant was issued for his arrest through Interpol. The man, who has not been publicly identified, is charged with reporting to Norwegian authorities that he was ill while also working for well-known cruise lines on luxurious vessels around the world.
He reported received state disability payments totalling NOK 2.9 million from 2007 to 2015, without informing Norwegian authorities that he also had income from the cruise lines totalling more than NOK 3.1 million. That’s led to charges of serious fraud along with the tax evasion charges.
He described the case as “a personal tragedy” but declined further comment to DN. He said the authorities had “sent letters to my old address” and claimed he had been “available all the time.” He claimed he didn’t know the authorities has been looking for him. He said he no longer works as a cruise captain but has a new job that requires frequent travel abroad.
newsinenglish.no staff