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The Integration and Diversity Directorate (Imdi) has decided to suspend the second term of this year’s operational support to the Born Free Foundation.
– Comprehensive investigations of the foundation’s finances show clear and systematic violations of the preconditions for grants, Imdi director Libe Rieber-Mohn says in a press release Monday.
After a thorough review of the Født Fris accounting documentation, the management’s conclusion is that the foundation has been in financial mismanagement.
Imdi’s decision means that the foundation will not receive the payment of NOK 3 million in the second term.
The decision can be appealed to the Ministry of Education and Research. The deadline for submitting claims is three weeks from the day Born Free received the withholding letter for the operating grant.
Also read: Libe Rieber-Mohn responds to Nettavisen and Erik Stephansen
“Misleading and wrong”
The foundation reacts strongly to the retention of support.
– The FødtFri foundation considers Imdi’s answer to be misleading and built on an incorrect foundation, it was stated in a statement late Monday.
– Today we received a letter from Imdi called “decision on withholding grants”. The letter is perceived as a new justification for the previously reported decision, it is said.
The foundation maintains that it believes that financial management “has been good.” General manager Shabana Rehman also reacts to the fact that she learned about Imdi’s conclusion through the media.
– It is very reprehensible in itself. Now we have been given a three-week appeal period, but we have no money or employees, he tells VG.
Erik Stephansen: Born free: three questions to the Minister of Integration, Guri Melby (V)
– boring case
Rieber-Mohn calls all of this a tedious business, but emphasizes the importance of funds being used correctly.
– There is a lot of competition for resources in the field of volunteering. Therefore, it is important that the organizations that receive support use the community funds according to the purpose and have good financial management, he says.
– When an organization that has received 14 million from the state budget does not follow the guidelines, it must have consequences, says the manager of Imdi.
Notification received
On August 11, Imdi received a notification regarding various matters related to the foundation. Based on the warning, investigations were launched with an emphasis on the financial management of the foundation.
The investigations were carried out by the auditing firm Ernst & Young, which concluded that the foundation lacked sound financial management and that parts of the grant had not been used as intended.
Born Fri already in early October rejected the allegations of financial mismanagement and demanded that all financial support be paid for 2020.
Also read: Counter for Investigative Interrogation: – It’s a shitty package. They were looking to take Shabana Rehman
Also read: Born the Fri scandal: – IMDi had decided in advance
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