The Sindh Home Department has requested the federal Interior Ministry to expedite the process of obtaining a Red Notice for Norwegian journalist Rolf John Widerøe. Widerøe is accused of defrauding a Pakistani national of 10 million rupees by falsely promising Norwegian citizenship.
The investigation into the alleged fraud by Widerøe, a journalist for the right-wing tabloid Verdens Gang (VG), has been ongoing. However, the case has stalled due to the non-cooperation of the accused with Pakistani authorities. To revive the investigation, the Sindh police have directed the relevant authorities to provide all necessary information to the Nordic Police Liaison Officer at the Norwegian Embassy. The aim is to collaborate with the Norwegian authorities to ensure Widerøe is brought to justice for allegedly defrauding a Pakistani citizen.
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Allegations of Multiple Frauds and Corruption
A probe conducted by Pakistani investigators has revealed that Rolf J. Widerøe, a known racist and Islamophobe, is implicated in multiple instances of fraud and corruption. The Sindh Police have confirmed they are actively seeking Widerøe, who allegedly defrauded Maqsood Ali, a resident of Nawabshah, of 10 million rupees. The journalist allegedly promised to secure Norwegian immigration documents in exchange for the money.
Maqsood Ali filed a complaint against Widerøe on January 14, 2016, at the Dhamrah Road Police Station in Nawabshah. However, by the time the complaint was lodged, Widerøe had already left Pakistan, having committed the fraud while on a journalist visa. According to the police records, Widerøe took the money in the presence of witnesses, but instead of fulfilling his promise, he engaged in “cheating and criminal breach of trust.”
Non-Bailable Arrest Warrants and Widerøe’s Evasion
Following his departure from Pakistan, Widerøe allegedly threatened Maqsood Ali with death and other dire consequences over the phone. In response to his failure to comply with the FIR and his subsequent absconding, the Nawabshah court issued Non-Bailable Arrest Warrants against him. Civil Judge Roshan Ali Bhugio issued a Non-Bailable Warrant of Arrest against Widerøe on February 27, 2016. However, by then, Widerøe had already fled to Norway, evading arrest and refusing to cooperate with Pakistani authorities.
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On February 27, 2016, a police report declared Widerøe an absconder, stating that he had fled to Norway after committing the crime. In response, the Sindh police requested the Home Department to execute the Non-Bailable Warrant of arrest against Widerøe through the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad. A copy of the warrant was attached to the request, along with an appeal for the issuance and execution of a Red Warrant to bring him before the trial court, as existing warrants remained unexecuted.
Lawsuits and Allegations of Collusion with a Paedophile Judge
In addition to the fraud case, Rolf J. Widerøe is reportedly facing a defamation lawsuit from a prominent businessman of Pakistani origin. The lawsuit alleges that Widerøe defamed the businessman and engaged in criminal collusion with Arild Nesdal, a convicted Norwegian paedophile judge. According to media reports, Widerøe and the Verdens Gang tabloid deliberately concealed facts about Nesdal, who was sentenced to jail for downloading and possessing child pornography.
The lawsuit claims that Widerøe is known for his close association with Judge Nesdal, who was convicted of child pornography offences. The charges against Nesdal involved downloading and possessing objectionable images and videos related to the sexual abuse of children, crimes that he committed while serving as a judicial officer at the Oslo District Court. Despite being aware of the grave nature of Nesdal’s crimes, the tabloid, under Widerøe’s reporting, allegedly chose to protect the disgraced judge by withholding these facts while covering stories like the Nordea Bank case.
This article was received directly from the reporter.