Update: Fredriksen CEO Put on Leave Following Arrest in Norway

Chief Executive Officer of the Fredriksen Group, Jo Lunder, who was apprehended by Norwegian police in Oslo on Wednesday, has been put on leave by the Group until further notice, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.

Lunder is suspected of being involved in an alleged bribery case in Uzbekistan while working as head of VimpelCom, a Russian mobile operator. As informed, the arrest and related investigation are not connected to Lunder’s current role at Fredriksen.

 “In consultation with Jo Lunder we have agreed that he has been put on leave from all his roles in the Fredriksen Group until further notice,” Harald Thorstein from the Fredriksen Group told NTB.

Based on the findings of US and Dutch investigations, Russian mobile operators MTS and VimpelCom are believed to have paid hundreds of millions of US dollars to bribe officials in Uzbekistan to secure permits for wireless connections.

Lunder acted as former head of Russian mobile operator VimpelCom from 2011 till 2015, before he was appointed head of the Fredriksen Group in May this year, a role he assumed in September.

Fredriksen Group controls investments in several large offshore energy and shipping companies such as Seadrill Ltd, Frontline Ltd, Golden Ocean Group Ltd, Archer Ltd and Marine Harvest ASA.

World Maritime News Staff