Published by Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.aftenposteneng

Norway’s highest court has rejected an appeal by a former tax-authority accountant involved in a widespread taxi-cab swindle, sending him to jail for eight years.

Henry Amundsen lost his appeal for a milder sentence for his part in a huge tax-evasion scandal. PHOTO: HANS TORGERSEN

Henry Amundsen, age 58, has also been deprived of the right to operate an independent business, to be head of a company, or to work in any position of leadership, including serving on boards of directors, for the rest of his life.

Amundsen was indicted for extensive and gross tax evasion and for breaking a number of accounting laws. He reportedly had appealed his ealier sentence on the grounds that it was “too severe”.

The Norwegian Supreme Court (Høyesterett) said Amundsen offered his professional assistance to taxi owners to help them with tax evasion. The court called the swindle operation “systematic, organized and extensive”.

The defendant not only worked at the Oslo tax office but also was a political appointee to a special tax panel for policy and appeals.

The tax scandal, which involved between 300 and 400 taxi owners, is said to be the most comprehensive in Norway’s history. A total of around NOK 200m (USD 40m) in income is said to have gone unreported, equalling close to NOK 90m in lost tax revenue.

 Source: Aftenposteneng

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