DENMARK Trends and Developments Contributed by: Simon Evers Hjelmborg, Christian Monberg, Linn Dyrgaard Stinus and Ann Sophie Juul Hird, Accura Advokatpartnerselskab
evolves and the decisions made by the politi - cians in Denmark. For now, there are no clear indications as to whether or not the area will
(approximately EUR11,000). Additionally, the Associate was convicted of aiding the Project Manager’s criminal breach of trust and bribery from 2017 to 2019, amounting to DKK123,800 (approximately EUR17,000). The Associate received a four-month suspended prison sen - tence with community service. A painting contractor and supplier to FES (the “Painting Contractor”) was convicted of aid - ing the Project Manager’s criminal breach of trust and bribery in 2019, involving DKK73,385 (approximately EUR10,000). The Painting Con - tractor received a 60-day suspended prison sen - tence due to his good personal circumstances and health. The Painting Contractor’s company was fined DKK50,000 (approximately EUR7,000) for its involvement in the corrupt activities. The court found that the Office Manager and the Project Manager exploited their positions at FES to approve and process fraudulent invoices, allowing personal expenses to be covered by public funds. The Associate and the Painting Contractor facilitated these actions by provid - ing goods and services without proper billing, effectively bribing the officials to secure favour - able treatment and contracts. The court noted that the actions of the defend - ants were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of misconduct that undermined the integrity of public institutions. The ruling highlighted the need for systemic changes within FES to prevent future occurrences of corruption. Recommendations included imple - menting stricter controls over the approval of invoices and contracts, enhancing transparen - cy in procurement processes, and establishing independent oversight mechanisms to monitor compliance with anti-corruption policies.
remain unregulated. Relevant case law
Normally, anti-corruption cases in Denmark per - tain to the extradition of foreign citizens to juris - dictions in which the legal systems are plagued by corruption, jeopardising the foreign citizens’ right to, amongst other things, a fair trial. How - ever, there have been two larger cases revolving around corruption on Danish ground treated by the Danish courts within the last 12 months. The FES case In a court ruling dated 16 September 2024, several persons (physical and legal) were found guilty of corruption and bribery involving the Danish Defence Estates and Infrastructure Organisation (FES) by the Eastern High Court of Denmark. The case centred around the misuse of public funds and the acceptance of bribes by public officials and their collaborators. A former office manager at FES (the “Office Man - ager”), was convicted of gross criminal breach of trust and passive bribery. Between 2014 and 2019, the office manager allowed FES to cover personal expenses, including a kitchen, an elec - tric awning, and household appliances, totalling DKK124,783 (approximately EUR17,000). These actions were carried out in collaboration with a project manager at FES (the “Project Manager”). The Office Manager received a six-month sus - pended prison sentence with community service due to his good personal circumstances and age. An associate of a kitchen supplier to FES (the “Associate”) was found guilty of active bribery in 2014, involving a kitchen worth DKK82,427
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