Corruption charges have been levied against Viking Ocean Cruises ceo Torstein Hagen over alleged bribes paid to the Mayor of Bergen, Trude Drevland. According to reports which have been flatly denied by Viking, the allegations stem from the May christening of Viking Star in Bergen (Travel Daily 18 May). Hagen...
Corruption charges have
been levied against Viking Ocean
Cruises ceo Torstein Hagen over
alleged bribes paid to the Mayor
of Bergen, Trude Drevland.
According to reports which
have been flatly denied by Viking,
the allegations stem from the
May christening of Viking Star in
Bergen (Travel Daily 18 May).
Hagen is accused of plying
Mayor Drevland with a free trip
to Venice and a free cruise on
Viking Star in return for modified
Norwegian shipping regulations.
Norway’s VG News says Hagen
sought “very most favourable
treatment” relating to shipping
laws on sailing between domestic
ports, something prohibited in
the Norwegian Int’l Ship Registry.
Drevland is accused of trying to
influence government agencies to
ensure the ship sailed under the
Norwegian flag.
Viking Cruises said it followed
“perfectly normal business
practices” and it was confident it
has done nothing unlawful.
