Swedish spies under fire for Bond party

30 Aug 2012, 9:37 am   -   Source: AAP
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The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported that SAPO threw the party for its 1000 employees in June 2011, featuring roulette tables, a tuxedo-clad orchestra playing Bond film music, and song, dance and comedy performances by Swedish artists.

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported that SAPO threw the party for its 1000 employees in June 2011, featuring roulette tables, a tuxedo-clad orchestra playing Bond film music, and song, dance and comedy performances by Swedish artists.

A lavish James Bond-themed work party that was thrown by Sweden's secret service has attracted the ire of the country's prime minister.

Were the martinis shaken, not stirred? Nobody knows, but a James Bond-themed party thrown by Sweden's security service sure didn't adhere to this one-liner from Casino Royale: "I will be keeping my eye on our government's money."

Sweden's prime minister has urged the heads of government agencies to control their spending on staff parties after the SAPO security service admitted it held a Bond bash for 4.3 million kronor (about $A630,000).

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported that SAPO threw the party for its 1000 employees in June 2011, featuring roulette tables, a tuxedo-clad orchestra playing Bond film music, and song, dance and comedy performances by Swedish artists.

The report, following a string of articles about spending binges at government agencies, exposed SAPO to both ridicule and criticism.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told the paper on Wednesday that agency chiefs "are well paid, they should know better".

SAPO said the party capped a day of educational and inspirational activities mean to provide "knowledge, inspiration and solidarity" after a year of organisational changes and a heavy workload.

"In this case, the agency set aside a large amount of money so that our roughly 1000 employees stationed across Sweden could gather, something that is necessary for us to carry out our mission," SAPO chief Anders Thornberg said in a statement.

Critics said the event was particularly ill-timed since SAPO has been undergoing a reorganisation involving budget cuts.

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