– I don’t give up – VG

On Monday, it was announced that IMDi will retain NOK 3 million in state support for 2020 for the controversial Født Fri foundation.

– Comprehensive investigations of the foundation’s finances show clear and systematic violations of the preconditions for grants, IMDi director Libe Rieber-Mohn tells VG.

UPDATED: Born Free is not reported to the police by IMDi, even though it was suggested by the audit firm EY. This is confirmed by Rieber-Mohn to VG:

– We have considered the question and it did not seem natural to go ahead. We have prioritized using our ability to evaluate the case based on our grant guidelines and make a thorough decision on the case, Rieber-Mohn answers VG’s questions.

The foundation’s leader, comedian and public polemicist Shabana Rehman, rejects the allegations of financial failure at the foundation:

– There has been no financial mess at Born Free, there has been no financial mismanagement, nothing illegal has happened, there have been no defaults. A small foundation with two employees, which has been in existence for 2 years and 7 months with more than 30 projects completed, Rehman tells VG.

– But the report indicates bad routines, isn’t it something you criticize yourself for?

“We have reviewed everything with financial professionals and we have seen that we can improve our financial routines and of course we will implement it,” says Rehman.

– With this conclusion, do you quit your job and give up now?

– No. A profound injustice has been committed. I cannot give up until we have restored the good name and reputation of the organization. We will follow the case. First with a complaint to the Ministry of Education, and then to the Ombudsman of the Civil People if necessary.

Read the exclusive interview: Shabana Rehman explains about meeting with Raja, trip to London with Zahid Ali and process towards Born Free

Director of IMDi: – Not ordered

IMDi’s director, Rieber-Mohn, argues that the foundation has not been orderly enough in the economy.

– There has been confusion in the finances of the foundation and the finances of the administrator’s private companies, there has been a lack of control over acquisitions and a lack of separation between private expenses and the expenses of the foundation, says Rieber-Mohn to VG.

– But when the report was presented, it was said that they had been in concert with a-ha in London and in Spa hotels, but the concert was free and they were not within the hotel’s spa facilities. Is there anything you regret about the first production?

– There may be inaccuracies in the first draft, but this is specified in the final report. They have been given the opportunity to defend themselves four times, Rieber-Mohn says.

– was not heard

But Shabana Rehman does not feel that the foundation has been heard in its responses. She explains to VG that the foundation has given us a three week appeal period, but has no money or employees.

– It doesn’t seem like IMDi took our answer seriously. As if they hadn’t read it. I perceive this as another attempt by IMDi to guard against criticism of the process that has now been documented, Rehman tells VG.

– I realize that six weeks have passed on this decision while they only spent a few hours depriving the support of the Born Free State. I see that IMDi has not made any own evaluation of the EY report with the documentation we have submitted, it continues.

also read

– The worst thing that someone with a minority background can be accused of is abusing public funds

15 million

On September 21, the government announced that it would cut support for “Born Free.” The foundation is said to have used portions of the state support they received for purposes other than those for which they received support, and lacks sound financial management, according to a report by Ernst and Young, according to a government press release.

“Born Free” was established in the fall of 2017 as a foundation with the aim of working against negative social control and equality between genders, religions and ethnicities.

Since 2017, the foundation has received just over NOK 15 million in grants from the state budget and through grant schemes managed by the Integration and Diversity Directorate (IMDi), including as a national resource environment.

Relationship: This is how the Rehman Foundation used the money

Several alleged irregularities are related to two writing seminars for Stovnerrevyen 2019 and a documentary about this year’s magazine, where comedians Zahid Ali and Rehman worked together. Read about the controversial magazine here.

The EY report

Investigations into the finances of Født Fris have been carried out by the audit firm Ernst & Young (EY) and, among other things, have revealed the following, writes IMDi in their summary:

• Mix between the finances of the foundation and the private company of the general manager
• Lack of management and control of acquisitions and purchases.
• Lack of distinction between labor and private expenses
• Violation of the Accounting Law and tax payment regulations
• Inappropriate use of project codes and cost specification in the accounts, making verifiability difficult