Several former employees have reported senior officials of the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) to military prosecutors for alleged violations of criminal law during an internal investigation linked to Denmark’s biggest intelligence scandal in decades.
Military Prosecutors Confirm New Complaints Against FE Chiefs
Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service, known as FE, has been reported to the military prosecution authority for suspected illegal activity within the intelligence agency. The Defense Ministry’s Audit Corps confirmed that the case involves named employees, including former top officials such as Svend Larsen and several others who are still employed within the agency.
These new complaints stem from the long-running FE case that erupted in December 2021 when the former agency head, Lars Findsen, another FE employee, and an officer from Denmark’s domestic intelligence service PET were arrested on charges of leaking state secrets. Another former FE officer was also detained in the same investigation.
Because of that, the internal allegations now being examined by the military prosecutors point toward potential false reports, false statements, and abuse of official position during FE’s earlier internal probe.
Internal Investigation Under the Microscope
Before PET made any arrests, FE had already begun its own internal investigation to determine who might have leaked confidential information. Former employees claim that this internal process may itself have crossed legal lines.
According to information confirmed by Danish media, parts of the inquiry involved several so-called “security conversations” with selected employees. FE also analyzed phone logs from the mobile of then-director Lars Findsen to identify which journalists he was communicating with. It remains unclear whether other surveillance methods were used internally to locate possible leakers.
Interestingly, this development comes at a time when Denmark has been increasingly alert to hybrid threats and foreign intelligence operations. Accusations involving espionage and information leaks have gained more attention in light of other incidents, including a recent situation where Denmark blames Russia for drone hybrid attacks.
What Is the Military Prosecution Authority?
The military prosecution branch, known as the Audit Corps, acts as Denmark’s military public prosecutor. The body has authority to investigate and prosecute only military personnel. Although linked administratively to the Ministry of Defense, it operates independently from the armed forces and command structure.
Its legal foundation is set by the Danish Administration of Justice Act and the Military Criminal and Procedural Code, which was thoroughly revised in 2005. The same procedural principles that apply to civilian justice also guide military cases, though there are specific regulations due to the nature of military service.
A Case of Mistaken Suspicion
One of the individuals who filed the current complaints is a 62-year-old woman who previously worked for FE for many years. She was one of the four people arrested back in 2021. The arrest took place as she was heading to work, when officers from Denmark’s special police unit detained her.
She was charged with leaking state secrets, but the charge was later dropped and declared completely unfounded. Despite being cleared, she reportedly never received a full explanation of what the suspicions against her were based on. Since then, she has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition attributed to the ordeal surrounding her arrest and detention.
Former colleagues have described her as deeply shaken and under immense pressure during her time at the agency. Some have spoken out publicly about what they viewed as wrongful treatment of employees by FE’s internal security office.
Københavns Politi, Copenhagen’s police authority, has not confirmed whether it received the specific cases filed by the military auditors. Meanwhile, FE itself has not issued any public comment on the latest reports.
Ongoing Legal and Political Fallout
The Danish intelligence community has faced continuous turbulence since the FE scandal first surfaced. The public and political debate about the handling of confidential data, media leaks, and internal accountability remains intense.
At the same time, these new complaints highlight the continuing complexity of the intelligence oversight system. The Danish government has faced similar scrutiny regarding transparency and how much power agencies like FE and PET should have when investigating leaks involving classified information.
Although much about the case remains unknown, it underscores the tension between national security demands and the protection of employees’ legal rights. For now, both the military prosecutors and Copenhagen police continue to assess the complaints related to FE’s internal activities.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Denmark blames Russia for drone hybrid attacks
The Danish Dream: Best lawyer in Denmark for foreigners
DR: FE-chefer anmeldt brud på straffeloven
