– I had faith that this was a real project, Jan Helge Furu (61) explained to the court on Tuesday. The southerner is charged with fraud and fraud for a total of NOK 17 million. The trial against him started on Monday, three years after the news revelations that led to his arrest. The 61-year-old denies criminal guilt. – The media and Økokrim have created a bad image of me, said Furu. Five weeks have been set aside for the trial in Asker and Bærum district court. Here from the arrest of Jan Helge Furu in 2021, a few days after the Brennpunkt documentary came out. Photo: SVERRE HOLM-NILSEN / news Supposed to have spent millions himself Furu has a background in the Armed Forces and as a long-time company manager. Økokrim believes he has tricked a number of people into investing money in a fictitious project. The project involved the “buying and selling of state documents”, Furu explained in court on Tuesday. Lawyers, bankers, royalty and diplomats from all over the world are said to have been involved, Furu said in court. The southerner himself is also said to have invested several millions, and to have been promised large sums in return. – He believes that he has received incorrect information, says Furu’s defender, Bernt Heiberg. Jan Helge Furu (61) from Farsund is the defendant in the trial that is going on in Asker and Bærum District Court. Photo: Privat “Jättesvindel” In Scandinavia, the Swedish Mikael Ivanoff was the leader of the gigantic international project, according to Furu. The Swede was also arrested after the Brennpunkt documentary in 2021, but died in prison. It has emerged in court that Furu has confronted Ivanoff several times. “Giant fraud (…) I see that you are playing a game with me too,” wrote Furu in an email to the Swede in 2012. That is one of the reasons why Økokrim believes Furu must have understood that the project was not real. Furu explained that he has made demands on Ivanoff all along, and that he has then received documentation that has made the project appear credible. The “Arendal gang” Økokrim believes that people from Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany are behind the fraud. Several Norwegians have invested in the project. Furu describes some of these as the “Arendal gang”. news has previously interviewed Jan Tore Langmyr from Arendal, who believes that he lost eight million kroner on the project. His case is obsolete, and not part of Økokrim’s investigation. Another man in the “Arendals gang” has previously had the status of accused. He will testify later in the trial. Jan Tore Langmyr believes that he lost eight million to the project. The picture was taken in connection with the Brennpunkt documentary in 2021. His case is obsolete, and not part of the Økokrim case which is now in court. Photo: ANETTE BERENTSEN / news Nursing home in Hong Kong and water to Dubai The fraud-accused southerner is said to have first entered the project in the early 2000s. As part of this project, Furu is also said to have been involved in the development of nursing homes in Hong Kong, he explained in court. He is also said to have been involved in trying to get spring water from Sweden to Dubai. Furu also explained about a series of meetings, transactions and emails over a period of several years. Lawyer Arnt Angell is one of two defenders in the case. Photo: Tom Nicolai Kolstad / news – Demanding situation Five weeks have been set aside for the trial against Furu. One of the news journalists who helped expose the project is on the witness list. Furu finds the case demanding, says lawyer Arnt Angell, who defends him in court. – He thinks it is good to be able to come up with his version of the matter. Furu’s explanation is comprehensive, with many names, groupings, companies and banks. – You have to keep your tongue straight in your mouth, says police attorney Ida Dahlgren Hanssen in Økokrim. Photo: Tom Nicolai Kolstad / news Hello! Do you have any tips in this matter? Or other matters you would like to advise on? Feel free to contact me by email 👇🏻 Published 08.10.2024, at 15.05 Updated 08.10.2024, at 15.10
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Accused fraudster believes he himself was deceived – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
