Newly released court documents reveal that former Danish intelligence chief Lars Findsen had direct contact with Spanish authorities in the controversial Ahmed Samsam case, discussing potential compensation and prisoner transfer. The revelations emerge from a 2022 court record that was kept secret for years before being released to the press following a Supreme Court ruling.
Secret Court Documents Unveil Intelligence Chief’s Spanish Negotiations
A court record from the Eastern High Court in 2022 has shed new light on the actions of Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service in the Ahmed Samsam affair. The documents detail testimony from Lars Findsen, who served as chief of Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste at the time of the events in question.
After years of legal wrangling, the court record was finally released to the press. Ekstra Bladet secured a Supreme Court ruling that allowed public access to the proceedings, which dealt with whether Findsen should remain in pre-trial detention.
During his testimony, Findsen explained his direct involvement in negotiations with Spanish authorities. According to the court record, the goal was to secure Samsam’s transfer to a Danish prison. While they could not change his sentence, there was discussion about potentially shortening his time served and compensating him for damages he had suffered.
The Samsam Case Becomes a Major Problem
Findsen described the situation as having become a massive problem once it entered the public sphere. The intelligence chief maintained ongoing contact with Spanish authorities throughout the transfer process. Interestingly, Samsam was ultimately transferred to Denmark after Findsen had already stepped down from his position as FE chief.
Previous reporting had already revealed that both FE and PET negotiated with Samsam regarding compensation in the millions. However, these newly released documents provide the first detailed account of the direct diplomatic channels used in the case.
The Ahmed Samsam case centers on a Syrian-Danish man who was arrested in Spain in June 2017. A year later, Spanish authorities sentenced him to eight years in prison for fighting with Islamic State in Syria between 2012 and 2014, as well as for helping finance terrorism and sharing propaganda.
Intelligence Services’ Secret Agent Exposed
DR and Berlingske later uncovered that Samsam had actually been sent to Syria and paid by both PET and FE on multiple trips. The intelligence services tasked him with gathering information about Danish foreign fighters. On at least one journey, he carried tracking equipment and other materials provided by the agencies.
Danish spy chiefs found themselves in an awkward position when their relationship with Samsam became public knowledge. The exposure complicated ongoing operations and created diplomatic challenges with Spain.
Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations to Stop Lawsuit
Findsen’s court testimony revealed that FE and PET attempted to prevent Samsam from filing a civil lawsuit against the Danish state. The strategy involved opening a dialogue with Samsam’s lawyer at the time, Thomas Brædder.
According to the court record, the intelligence services decided to try communicating directly with Brædder to dissuade him from pursuing legal action. They held several meetings, both at Brædder’s office and at FE headquarters. During these discussions, they established what Findsen called a gentleman’s agreement.
The arrangement stipulated that if negotiations failed, Brædder could not use any information from their private discussions against the state. This informal understanding aimed to create a safe space for exploring potential settlements without legal consequences.
The contact between FE and Brædder came about through an unusual channel. Berlingske journalist Simon Andersen, who has known Findsen professionally for three decades and occasionally dines with him, helped establish what the intelligence chief described as a back door for communication.
Eventually, the negotiations collapsed in 2021. At that point, Brædder withdrew from representing Samsam, who then retained new legal counsel to continue pursuing his case.
Legal Battle Reaches Denmark’s Highest Court
Samsam filed a civil lawsuit demanding that PET and FE acknowledge their working relationship with him. Initially, the Eastern High Court rejected his claims in November 2023. However, the Supreme Court reversed that decision in September 2025, forcing the intelligence services to confirm their collaboration with Samsam.
According to PET and FE, Samsam worked for them during trips to Syria in 2013 and 2014 on matters related to counter-terrorism. This acknowledgment came only after the highest court in Denmark ordered them to do so.
After serving his terrorism sentence, Samsam was released from prison. He later published a book titled “Samsam: My Life as a Gang Criminal, Syria Fighter and Agent for Denmark” in collaboration with Berlingske journalist Jens Anton Bjørnager.
Secret Phones and Intelligence Operations
During his court testimony, Findsen also discussed operational security measures he employed as intelligence chief. He explained that he used a Nokia phone for conversations of an operational nature, including certain communications with journalists.
His reasoning was straightforward. He wanted to avoid using his regular phone in case foreign intelligence services had compromised it through hacking. According to Findsen, he had followed this practice for at least five years.
The Nokia device was reportedly provided to him by what he called the Source Management Department. The court record redacted the specific name of the person who issued him the phone.
Findsen also revealed that PET’s top chief, Finn Borch Andersen, was involved in the process of bringing Samsam back to Denmark. This effort began after Berlingske published its first articles about the case in January 2020.
Limited Response from Key Figures
When DR reached out to Lars Findsen for additional comment on which Spanish authorities he contacted, the former intelligence chief declined to elaborate. He stated that any such matters related to his time as FE chief and he would not comment on them further. Findsen noted that he provided his testimony in court behind double-closed doors.
Both PET and FE declined to comment on Findsen’s court testimony. The intelligence services have maintained a consistent policy of not discussing operational matters or classified information in public forums.
The release of these court documents provides rare insight into how Denmark’s intelligence services operate when one of their assets faces foreign prosecution. The case highlights the complex diplomatic and legal challenges that arise when covert operations become public knowledge.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Danish Spy Chiefs Accused of Breaking the Law
The Danish Dream: Best Lawyer in Denmark for Foreigners
