Mona Juul & Terje Rød-Larsen: Defense Rejects Corruption Allegations

Just over two weeks after Økokrim (the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime) indicted Mona Juul for gross corruption and Terje Rød-Larsen for complicity in gross corruption, the defense teams are striking back against the allegations. The case centers around connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

– The indictment is so general in nature that it is practically impossible to refute. It was used as the basis for a search, despite the fact that our clients have fully cooperated at all times,” said Thomas Skjelbred of Elden Advokatfirma in a statement Thursday evening.

The latest release of Epstein files prompted Økokrim to issue the indictment against the diplomatic couple.

Pointers to Juul’s Leave of Absence

Skjelbred represents Mona Juul. He argues that none of the conditions for corruption are met.

– Corruption necessarily requires a position to which the benefit is linked. When this falls away, the basis for the corruption charge also falls away,” he further stated in the press release.

“The Indictment Automatically Falls”

John Christian Elden, also of Elden Advokatfirma and representing Terje Rød-Larsen, leveled harsh criticism at Økokrim.

– When the indictment is so vague and unlimited that everything the clients have done over decades is drawn into suspicion, this violates fundamental human rights,” Elden said.

– The indictment is not a concrete charge document, but a framework of speculation,” he continued.

the indictment against Rød-Larsen automatically falls, according to Elden.

Rød-Larsen acknowledges that some assessments in retrospect appear unwise, based on today’s knowledge of Epstein.

– Had he known what is known today, the contact would never have taken place. But imprudence is not a crime,” Elden said.

Juul and Rød-Larsen have both spoken to Økokrim. No new interrogations are currently planned, according to Elden.

Økokrim: Reasonable Grounds for Suspicion

First State Prosecutor at Økokrim, Marianne Bender, rejects the criticism from Elden Advokatfirma.

– Økokrim believes there is reasonable suspicion of gross corruption and complicity in this. The indictment is specified to concern gross corruption and complicity in this. It is broadly formulated and can relate to the receipt of undue benefits over time in connection with a position,” she writes to VG.

She says that it is entirely normal for the indictment to be broadly formulated at the beginning of major investigations.

– Here’s not a violation of human rights. The court has agreed with this, and has also concluded that there is reasonable suspicion.

– We are now in a phase where we are investigating the corruption issue and will obtain evidence that can speak both for and against the accused. Whether this work eventually leads to charges against the accused is too early to say anything about now,” she writes.

The Epstein Connection

Juul and Rød-Larsen have arrive under scrutiny after the Epstein files revealed a closer relationship with the convicted financier than previously known.

The Epstein files show that the couple visited Epstein’s island in 2011 with their children, and also purchased a luxury apartment in Frogner, Oslo, at a heavily discounted price following Epstein’s involvement.

Both Juul and Rød-Larsen have distanced themselves from Epstein in recent times.

Diplomatic Background

Mona Juul has been Norway’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, a position she took over in 2024. She is a well-known Norwegian diplomat and former politician for the Labour Party.

Juul has been ambassador to Israel, at Norway’s UN delegation in New York, and State Secretary for Thorbjørn Jagland when he was Foreign Minister.

On February 8, she resigned as ambassador to Jordan.

Together with her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, she is best known for their work on the Oslo Accords between Israel and the PLO.

Rød-Larsen has held several positions in the UN, before being president of the think tank IPI from 2005 to 2020.