After several years of trials and accusations of corruption, cabin architect Rune Breili hoped for a point. That’s not how it will be. Breili was convicted in the district court, but acquitted in the court of appeal. This acquittal has now been overturned by the Supreme Court. New lawsuit The Court of Appeal found it proved that architect Rune Breili, without demanding payment, had provided architectural services worth NOK 28,000 to the head of the building case department in the former Tjøme municipality. The department dealt with construction cases from architectural firms for which the architect worked. The two were nevertheless acquitted of the charge of gross corruption. The Supreme Court has concluded that the Court of Appeal was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law. As the acquittal was based on an incorrect application of the law, the judgment of the Court of Appeal is set aside. The case must thus be re-examined in the Court of Appeal IN THE COURT: Rune Breili (back) and former construction case manager Harald Svendsen when the case went to the Supreme Court on 2 June this year. Photo: Anders Fehn / news Drawings and friend services The core of the case is architectural drawings Breili made for free for former construction manager in Tjøme municipality, Harald Svendsen, when he built a house on Tjøme. What the Supreme Court was to consider was whether Svendsen accepted the drawings as a friend or a public employee. Specifically if they helped each other «on occasion». Breili sent many applications to Tjøme on behalf of cottage owners. Several of the applications were processed by Svendsen. Breili and Svendsen have always said that they were just friends who helped each other. Ecocrime, on the other hand, does not agree with this. They believe that Svendsen’s position in the municipality means that this was corruption. Was surprised The accusations have hung over them for several years. The district court thought it was corruption. The Court of Appeal thought it was a legal service of friends and the case went to the Supreme Court. – I am surprised that Økokrim appealed the verdict from the Court of Appeal, Rune Breili told news a few days before the case went to the Supreme Court. Breili does not wish to comment on the fact that the Supreme Court has revoked the acquittal at this time.
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The acquittal is revoked – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
