The ecocrime chief should not be involved in the Solberg case – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

For four years, Ecocrime chief Pål K. Lønseth was state secretary for the Labor Party. As head of Ecocrime, he had such close ties to Anniken Huitfeldt that he declared himself ineligible in her share case. Now law professor Eivind Smith believes that this handling means that Lønseth should give up all the share cases, to Borten Moe, Huitfeldt and Sindre Finnes. – As these cases are apparently treated differently, even though they have some very clear common features, it could appear as a problem for trust in Økokrim itself. The Attorney General should probably appoint a State Attorney to handle all three, and either put it aside, or go ahead and investigate, says Smith. – So you think that Lønseth should get out of this complex? – Yes. Eivind Smith is professor of jurisprudence at the University of Oslo. Photo: Sunniva Linjord – Trust in the population is crucial Gunnar Holm Ringen has himself been a state attorney in Økokrim, and now heads the investigation department at the audit company PWC. He believes that Økokrim must do more in the share cases, to protect its independence, than just what the law requires. – It is clear that when you declare yourself incompetent with reference to political affiliation in a case, the question is whether that can also have a contagion effect. He says that it is one thing if it is legally the case that there is disqualification in this case. – But here the trust in the population is absolutely crucial, and then there may be reason to go further than the purely formal legal requirements, says Ringen. But that’s not how the law works, replies the Ecocrime chief. He believes that he has no other choice but to assess the Sindre Finnes case. – It is absolutely certain law that party affiliation in itself does not give grounds for disqualification. – But is it wise? – The law stipulates that there must be special circumstances that will make me ineligible. I can’t see that being the case here, says Pål K. Lønseth.



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