STOCKHOLM, Feb 11 (Bernama-dpa) -- Norway's parliament on Tuesday agreed, through its oversight committee, to launch an independent investigation into links between the country's foreign policy establishment and the deceased convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, reported German news agency dpa, quoting local media.
"Disturbing and serious information has come to light in the course of the Epstein affair," the committee chairman, Per-Willy Amundsen, told the NTB news agency.
The appointed commission is tasked with scrutinising the Epstein connection and examining the internal operations of Norway’s foreign service over recent years.
Three prominent Norwegian figures are under investigation for suspected "aggravated corruption" regarding their ties to the late US financier.
Former prime minister and former secretary general of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland; the country's former ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, Mona Juul; and her husband, the former senior diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, are under scrutiny.
Their names appear in the huge trove of Epstein communications released by the US government.
Former foreign minister and current head of the World Economic Forum, Børge Brende, also appears in the Epstein files.
Appearance in the files does not in itself imply wrongdoing or illegal behaviour.
"A picture is emerging of an environment that is not healthy – and in which there is a high risk of corruption," opposition politician Amundsen told NTB. "This must be investigated. No stone must be left unturned."
Last week, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit offered an apology for her friendship for Epstein, after it emerged they had exchanged messages for years. Her name appears hundreds of times in the Epstein documents.
--BERNAMA-dpa
