Per-Yngve Monsen, formerly employed by the Norwegian branch of the German multinational company Siemens, has been rewarded for his courage and stamina in reporting on his employer´s corrupt conduct and systematic over-charging in contracts with the public sector and government in Norway. On Freedom of Expression Foundation´s website, Monsen receives praise for his brave use of his ight to freedom of expression. (08-APR-08)
Based on Freedom of Expression Foundation´s own release, this article has been written and prepared for publication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz.
Freedom of Expression Foundation further emphasizes that Siemens made Monsen suffer for his decision to report on his own employer for several years, but that he stood by his decision. So far, his reward has only been moral, in seeing Siemens being found guilty and sentenced in Norwegian courts to pay back more than 70 million Norwegian kroner, the equivalent of approximately 15 million US dollars, for its over-charging. With this award, Monsen is also somewhat financially compensated for his losses, having been unemployed for years after his dismissal from Siemens. He is now back in full employment for the municipality of Oslo.
The Freedom of Expression Foundation´s Award is the foundation´s most prestigeous prize, given to the one – person or institution – in Norway found to have made the most brave, important and beneficial use of the right to freedom of expression. Monsen´s warnings about the severe and long-lasting misconduct of several top ranking staff members at Siemens Norway were proven worthy with the court´s decision to sentence Siemens to pay back and also fine the company for its obvious lack of moral judgement and integrity.
