Former Vimpelcom chief executive Jo Lunder was picked up by police in Norway this week and is being held on suspicion of gross corruption in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Russian telco’s activities in Uzbekistan.
Senior public prosecutor and head of the corruption team at Norway’s economic and environmental crime unit Marianne Djupesland confirmed the news to Reuters.
She said her staff have been helping Dutch authorities with their investigations into Vimpelcom, but are not working with U.S. authorities.
Vimpelcom has been under investigation in Uzbekistan since early 2014. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice (DoJ), and the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, are probing its dealings with Takilant, a company it has worked with in the country, including to facilitate the acquisition of spectrum.
The investigation centres on allegations of bribery and corruption at the business.
Lunder served as CEO of Vimpelcom for almost four years, stepping down in April this year. He was named as chief executive of Norwegian investment group the Fredriksen Group in May.
He was apprehended at Oslo airport on Wednesday night, his lawyer told Reuters.
Vimpelcom declined to comment, the newswire said.
The telco has repeatedly stated that it is cooperating with the various authorities conducting the investigation.
