The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Wednesday it had filed a police report after receiving a seemingly fraudulent nomination of United States President, Donald Trump.
“We have good reason to believe that a nomination we received concerning Trump has been falsified,” Nobel Institute director Olav Njolstad told AFP.
He refused to provide further details, saying police were now looking into the matter.
Each year, nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize must be submitted by January 31. Among those entitled to propose names are members of parliament and government, former laureates and some university professors.
While the list of candidates is kept secret for at least 50 years, those who nominate are however allowed to disclose their choice.
The Peace Research Institute of Oslo (Prio) said in early February that Trump’s name was on the list.
Like last year, Trump was nominated for his “ideology of peace through strength” by an American who did not want his identity revealed, according to Prio, a body independent of the Nobel organisation which closely monitors the nominations revealed publicly.
According to AFP report, it is possible that this nomination was submitted by a person suspected of committing identity fraud to appear eligible to nominate.
The Nobel Institute said it had received 329 valid nominations for the 2018 Peace Prize.
