Published: Sunday, October 12, 2008
Politician's soothsayer bill is $7,700
OSLO, Norway -- A Norwegian Labor Party politician took voluntary sick leave last week and said she wouldn't seek re-election after running up big phone bills at Parliament's expense by turning to an unusual set of advisers: fortune tellers.
Saera Khan's mobile phone habits became known after Parliament said it would no longer cover her bills, which Norway's largest newspaper, Verdens Gang said hit 48,000 kroner ($7,740), in one three-month period.
"Advice from fortune tellers has not influenced the Labor party's work in Parliament," Labor's parliamentary leader Hill-Marta Solberg said in announcing Khan's leave.
Khan released a statement late Wednesday confirming news reports that her bills were so high because she called pay-by-the-minute fortune tellers 793 times in one nine-month period. She said she paid back the amount.
Saera Khan's mobile phone habits became known after Parliament said it would no longer cover her bills, which Norway's largest newspaper, Verdens Gang said hit 48,000 kroner ($7,740), in one three-month period.
"Advice from fortune tellers has not influenced the Labor party's work in Parliament," Labor's parliamentary leader Hill-Marta Solberg said in announcing Khan's leave.
Khan released a statement late Wednesday confirming news reports that her bills were so high because she called pay-by-the-minute fortune tellers 793 times in one nine-month period. She said she paid back the amount.
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