– Not credible! This is the verdict from one of the country’s best-known lawyers on SalMar. Andenæs does not believe the company’s explanation as to why they have received payment from companies in China that have been convicted of smuggling. Andenæs works at the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo. He specializes in international law. The law professor is now asking Økokrim to get involved. Must clean up – Ecocrime must clean up, says law professor Mads Andenæs. Photo: Bjørn Olav Nordahl / news – Norwegian exports must not be tainted by crime. And then you can say, then at least we have to see through our fingers with this. No, it is exactly the opposite that must happen, Andenæs insists. He is a specialist in international law. – It is to clear this up that Økokrim must act. This is incredibly important for the industry’s reputation. As I have gained insight into the matter, Økokrim should look into it. They must consider whether to launch an investigation. I have full confidence that they will do it, says Andenæs. For many years, he has worked in the Ministry of Finance both as department director, bureau chief and deputy director. 13 years in prison Yimin Dong is in a long-term prison in China. Photo: Private news told this week about Norwegian Yimin Dong, who is imprisoned in China with a sentence of 13 years. The reason is that she must have been the spider in a large smuggling network. The network is said to have smuggled large quantities of Norwegian salmon into China from Vietnam. This was during a period when the exporters in this country were banned from the Chinese market. For over ten years, Yimin Dong was SalMar’s external face in China and close to the company’s founder, Gustav Witzøe. She ensured income for the company of many hundreds of millions. Yimin Dong is said to have been very popular with Gustav Witzøe, and close to the SalMar founder. Photo: Bjørn Olav Nordahl / news news has documented how SalMar was paid for its salmon, directly from Chinese companies that have been convicted of smuggling Norwegian salmon. Practical SalMar has explained that it was Yimin Dong who had full and complete responsibility for the salmon after delivery in Vietnam. The company’s director of strategy, Runar Sivertsen, says the following: – We have had no involvement with her resale, but have accepted that her customers have settled parts of the deliveries directly to SalMar. This was a practical form of settlement that Yimin Dong asked for and which was already introduced in 2007. – SalMar’s explanation of the payments from China is not credible, repeats Andenæs. Read also: The golden girl who was imprisoned and dumped by SalMar Independent responsibility The professor is clear that SalMar has had an independent responsibility to investigate who the money in China came from. And whether they have been linked to a criminal act. – Starting in 2015, China banned SalMar completely from the Chinese market. They could not export fish to China. It provides a basis for investigating whether they contribute to, or directly commit, violations of Chinese legislation, says Andenæs. – What criminal liability can Salmar have in Norway? – SalMar cannot contribute to money laundering. It could be money laundering if SalMar has been paid in this way. The money laundering ban is something we have in Norwegian law. But it also has to do with international cooperation over several decades, he points out. And adds: – There is also a question of so-called self-washing. In other words, they have laundered for themselves, not for a third party. This is also punishable under Norwegian law. May be punished Andenæs makes the following reasoning: – If SalMar has committed an act which is illegal in China and which is also illegal in Norway, and which is not time-barred, the company can be criminally liable. So get punished. It will then apply to the company. But it can also apply to individuals in the company. Strategy director Runar Sivertsen at SalMar answers on behalf of the company. Photo: SalMar SalMar has been presented with all the statements from Mads Andenæs. The company’s director of strategy comments on them as follows: – All SalMar’s exports have taken place in accordance with national and international regulations, writes Runar Sivertsen in an e-mail to news. – As far as SalMar knows, it has never been stated by Chinese courts or the country’s authorities that SalMar should have contributed to illegalities in the wake of the Chinese restrictions. Nor after the awarding of the Peace Prize in 2010. SalMar otherwise refers to an explanation on the company’s website. Too much fishing crime – This is too much crime in the farming industry, says ecocrime chief, Pål Lønseth Photo: Jon P Petrusson / news Ecocrime chief Pål Lønseth says he has a particular eye on the farming industry. – I record Andene’s statements. But I cannot go into the specific case at this time. On a general basis, I would say that Økokrim expects Norwegian companies, which have markets and businesses in other parts of the world, to also act in line with local legislation. Lønseth adds: – There is too much crime in fisheries and farming. We have created a separate fishing crime project, which, among other things, works with prevention and intelligence against this industry. Hello! We are currently working a lot on matters concerning the farming industry. Do you have tips for us, or know something about the industry that you think we should know or check out? Feel free to send us an email! 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SalMar must be investigated by Økokrim – news Dokumentar
