8. februar 2012, 12:13 – opdateret 8. februar 2012, 12:16

The ex-leader of Army Operational Command (AOC), could be guilty of the biggest cover up in Danish military history if it’s proved that he lied to parliament about prison arrest numbers in Iraq, leading military expert Mikkel Vedby of Copenhagen University said today.

According to a confidential memo obtained by Politiken, Lieutenant General Kiærskou, currently Denmark’s military representative at NATO and widely tipped to become Denmark's next Chief of Defence, was already aware in April 2007 that the number of prisoners taken by Danish troops was at least 500, but in a reply to an official parliamentary question stated there had been no more than 198 so as not to damage the army's credibility. Two former defence ministers, Søren Gade and Gitte Lillelund Bech, have on at least 13 separate occasions in parliament confirmed the figure of 198 based on Mr Kiærskou's reply.

Mr Vedby said the whole issue challenges the basic trust that has to exist between lawmakers and the military. “It these allegations prove to be true this could be very, very serious affair,” he said. “The relationship between the military and civilian authorities would break down if defence chiefs lie.”

The Ministry of Defence has initiated a disciplinary hearing against Lieutenant General Kiærskou but Defence Minister Nick Hækkerup declined to comment on the details, saying only that it's 'unacceptable' if Parliament has been misled.