The government writes in a press release on Thursday afternoon.
– The service needs a boss who has his full and complete attention directed towards solving a very important social mission and in that way have the community’s trust. This is more important than ever in the security situation we are now in. There has been a lot of negative attention directed at my person in recent weeks. Consideration for PST’s trust in society and reputation must come first, says Sjøvold in the press release.
Roger Berg is acting PST chief until a new chief is in place.
Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Emilie Enger Mehl describes Sjøvold’s decision as wise.
– I respect Sjøvold’s decision, and think it is a wise decision, says Mehl.
Sjøvold’s departure comes in the wake of VG’s revelations around three firearms the then police chief kept illegally for several years, and which he wanted to get rid of.
The detention resulted in a fine of NOK 50,000, but had no consequences for his authorization or security clearance.
VG has revealed that a police officer was paid NOK 1.2 million to terminate his job as a case officer at the weapons office in the Oslo police district. The man had told the Bureau of Investigation about pressure and threats from colleagues and leaders to receive the three weapons.
Thursday writes VG that Sjøvold failed to tell about the illegal storage of the weapons when he was asked to give the Minister of Justice a full account of the case in 2019.
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