Media blamed for death of ex-minister

The apparent suicide of a former government minister accused of financial improprieties sparked a furious debate in Norway yesterday over whether the media drove him to his death.

Tore Toenne, the minister of health between March 2000 and November 2001, vanished on Friday after the police told him he was to be indicted for negligent gross fraud, which could be punished with fines and up to two years in prison. Mr Toenne, 54, was found dead on Saturday.

Earlier this month he burst on to the front pages of Norwegian newspapers, which reported he accepted a post-ministerial pension despite having a new job. Former members of government are supposed to receive those pensions only until they find other work.

During that time, Mr Toenne worked as a consultant for the BA-HR law firm in Oslo on a merger between two Norwegian companies.

Ulltveit-Moe, the president of the Norwegian Confederation of Business and Industry, told the Dagens Naeringsliv newspaper: "The tabloid press took the life of Tore Toenne."

The police said only that Mr Toenne was the victim of a deep personal tragedy, and that nothing criminal had happened, phrasing that is used in Norway to indicate suicide. Mr Toenne is survived by his wife and two adult sons.(AP)