The news that Sissel Knutsen Hegdal (H) is resigning as Stavanger mayor after having used party funds for private use during the election campaign in 2023 hit like a bomb on Wednesday afternoon. There is complete disagreement between the Central Conservative Party and Stavanger Conservative Party on this matter. Stavanger Høyre stated that they did not want to report the relationship against the outgoing Stavanger mayor. The right recommended a review. On Thursday, news is in contact with the Høyre central. They have sent the documents they have to the police so they can make an assessment. But they haven’t filed a complaint. The police say they have not received any documents – I confirm that we have sent what we have of relevant documents to the police. Then it is up to the police to assess whether this is something they want to look into more closely, says Secretary General of the Conservative Party, Tom Erlend Skaug to news. Secretary General of the Conservative Party, Tom Erlend Skaug, says they have sent all documents in the Knutsen Hegdal case to the police. Photo: Benedikte Grov / news He emphasizes that the Conservative Party as a party cannot make a criminal assessment of the case. – That’s what the police have to do, says Skaug. Information manager Iris Aunvik Tveten in the Conservative Party also confirms that the documents have been sent. The police told news this morning that they have not yet received the documents, but are waiting for them. Abuse was uncovered The case concerns the following transactions: 16 January 2023: Online shopping with Klarna. Incorrect use of the city council group’s card on four occasions on the same day. A total of NOK 8,813. 18 February 2023: Purchase of a plane ticket from Stavanger to Alicante. The reason for the purchase was that Sissel Knutsen Hegdal had to buy a new ticket in connection with Erna Solberg’s visit to Stavanger. The travel bill lacks documentation documenting that a new plane ticket purchased with the city council group’s payment card compensates for a private outlay for the original trip. A total of NOK 4,901. 21 April 2023: Flight ticket to Oslo without documentation of a work-related agreement in Oslo. A total of NOK 3,479. 4 May 2023: Withdrawal of cash without documentation. A total of NOK 5,000. 13 June 2023: The city council group’s card was used to pay for a gift to a party member, at the same time that a fundraiser had taken place via Spleis for the same gift. A total of NOK 3,900. 26 – 27 September 2023: Tickets to Utopia and purchase of eight festival passes. Five of the festival passes were for Conservative Party politicians and entourages and were approved, but the other three festival passes for family members were not. The amount to be repaid totals NOK 11,996. 9 September 2023: Dinner with the family at Restaurant Vaar as a conclusion to the election campaign. A total of NOK 7,500. 13 September 2023: Dinner at Restaurant Harry Pepper on election day with spouse and a couple of friends. A total of NOK 4,000. 18 September 2023: Purchase of a plane ticket from Oslo to Stavanger to a person with no formal connection to the Conservative Party. A total of NOK 1,559. All amounts have been refunded. In total, we are talking about NOK 51,148. Source: Press release from the Conservative Party The police announced on Wednesday that they would look into the case. The misuse of party funds must have been uncovered in an internal review of the accounts for 2023 which was carried out this spring. Knutsen Hegdal yesterday notified the group board of Stavanger Conservative Party that she wants to step down as mayor of Stavanger, a position she has held since October 2023. This is revealed in a press release that was sent out on Wednesday. Knutsen Hegdal is on sick leave, and will therefore not comment. Used payment cards associated with the city council group It was through an internal control that it emerged that a payment card linked to the city council group’s account had been used to pay for expenses that should not have been charged to the city council group. This has happened on at least nine occasions in the period January to September 2023. The card in question was disposed of by Knutsen Hegdal, who during this period was the Høyre’s group leader in Stavanger city council. The case thus concerns circumstances that took place before she was elected mayor. Knutsen Hegdal has repaid the entire amount, a total of NOK 51,148, to Stavanger Høyre’s city council group. Several Høyre leaders have been in Stavanger and participated in meetings on the issue. Stavanger Conservative Party will eventually start an internal process to find a new mayoral candidate from among the Conservative Party’s other members of the city council. On Wednesday evening, a crisis meeting was held in Stavanger concert hall. None of the meeting participants wanted to speak to the press afterwards. Published 05.09.2024, at 11.01 Updated 05.09.2024, at 11.11
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The Conservative Party has not reported Stavanger mayor Sissel Knutsen Hegdal to the police – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
