In September, it became known that the husband of Conservative leader and former prime minister Erna Solberg had traded shares over 3,000 times while she was prime minister. On the basis of the share trades, Økokrim announced that they will investigate whether there are grounds for opening an investigation into insider trading against the couple. It is unusual, says law professor Morten Kinander to news. – What does it really mean that Økokrim has assessed whether there are grounds for opening an investigation? – It is very special. We don’t really know what that means. It is quite unusual for Økokrim to come out and say that they are considering investigating a case, he replies. Law professor Morten Kinander at BI Business School says a possible investigation of Sindre Finnes could take a very long time. But Økokrim soon made up its mind. On Friday at 10 o’clock, Økokrim will announce whether an investigation will be opened or not. At 12 o’clock Økokrim chief Pål K. Lønseth will hold a press conference about the decision. Investigation can take a long time If Økokrim chooses to open an investigation into the case, it means that Økokrim will find out whether there are grounds for bringing charges against Sindre Finnes, explains the law professor. – What consequences will it have for Sindre Finnes and Erna Solberg if an investigation is opened? – Then he will, among other things, be called in for questioning and must hand over documents. Such an investigation can take a very long time. As for what consequences it will have for Erna Solberg, it is a political assessment that is up to the Conservative Party and Solberg himself, he replies. Kinander adds that it is very unusual for Økokrim to announce whether or not an investigation will be opened in a case. However, he points out that Økokrim was involved in the Borten Moe case and said that an investigation should be opened. Thus, Økokrim will also have to go into the Solberg case to tell whether an investigation should be opened or not, he believes. – But if Økokrim had been completely low from the start, they might not have needed it, says Kinander. On Friday morning, professor of police science Morten Holmboe at the Norwegian Police Academy participated in news’s Politisk Kvarter. There he was asked, among other things, what it would take for Økokrim to step in and investigate the Solberg case. – In general, it applies that an investigation must be factually justified, and there must be a certain probability that a criminal offense exists. And it must be proportionate to the seriousness of the case, says Holmboe. Penalty frame When Sindre Finnes’ extensive stock trading became known in mid-September, Erna Solberg said at her own press conference that she is absolutely certain that Finnes has not received inside information from her. Sindre Finnes has also said that he has not had access to inside information. The question of insider information will be decisive for whether Økokrim opens an investigation. Kinander states that the penalty for having engaged in insider trading is six years’ unconditional imprisonment. – There is no one who has been found guilty of it who has not received an unconditional prison sentence. In such cases, fines and suspended prison terms are out of the question as sanctions in Norwegian law, he says. Sindre Finne’s lawyer, Thomas Skjelbred, has previously told news that there is nothing about this case that indicates that anything illegal has happened in connection with the share trades. – In that context, it would only be good if Økokrim also investigates the case, and confirms it, Skjelbred told news in September. How Erna answered How Erna Solberg herself will react to Økokrim’s decision is not known. It is expected that she will comment on the matter later on Friday. But when Erna Solberg appeared for an interview marathon about the case on 21 September, news asked if she envisioned being able to continue as leader of the Conservative Party if an investigation was opened: – It is a case that must be assessed at that time. I think we will have to take it as it comes, and make assessments as we go along, she said. – Yes, it will be difficult to be leader of the Conservative Party and have a charge brought against them in one area, I think that is clear, Conservative Party leader and former Prime Minister Erna Solberg has said. Photo: Lars Os When asked if it would be difficult to continue as leader of the Conservative Party if Økokrim were to bring charges against her, she answered affirmatively: – Yes, it will be difficult to be leader of the Conservative Party and have a charge against her an area, I think that is clear. When asked directly, Solberg also opened up that it could be a possibility to take leave from her position as leader of the Conservative Party, but emphasized several times that she does not intend to make “rash decisions”. She has also emphasized this several times afterwards. – The party must have time to think about it, and I must have time to think about it going forward. For me, this revolves around the question of whether our voters and my party apparatus will have confidence in me to lead it forward, said Solberg.
ttn-69
This is what Økokrim’s decision means – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
