Jämtland’s Christmas Hunting Trips Under Scrutiny: A Financial Controversy Unfolds
Stein Lier-Hansen has asserted that his recent Christmas hunting excursions in Sweden were intended as a follow-up to climate summits. However, court documents reveal that the original invoices only listed two names: Lier-Hansen and his spouse.
In the scenic region of Jämtland, Lier-Hansen arranged a Christmas holiday that involved hunting for both himself and his partner. These details emerged from invoices presented by Økokrim during recent court proceedings, and it was revealed that Norsk Industri, his employer, footed the bill for these stays.
Over the past two years, Norsk Industri has, controversially, paid for Lier-Hansen’s hunting trips through the tourism company Joy Event Hunt & Health, which focused on winter bird hunting for large species perched high in the trees.
Despite prior inquiries from E24 regarding the participants of these trips, both Norsk Industri and Lier-Hansen remained tight-lipped. During Friday’s session in district court, Økokrim examined emails and invoices related to the hunting trips. The investigation uncovered multiple versions of invoices. Initially, Lier-Hansen received a bill for accommodation for himself and his spouse. Subsequently, he requested a revised invoice made out to “Norsk Industri,” which he justified by stating that these Christmas activities were part of his climate summit responsibilities—a rationale he provided for both years’ trips.
When approached for comment on the situation, Lier-Hansen refrained from speaking publicly, opting instead to address the court directly this week.
Invoice Requests Revealed
In 2021, Lier-Hansen received an enticing email from Evelina Åslund Bäck, the proprietor of Joy Event Hunt & Health, along with a booking confirmation and invoice for NOK 29,800, labeled “Top hunting for Stein and [spouse’s name].” The invoice broke down the costs for a hunting lodge and licenses for two guests.
Later, Lier-Hansen sought a new invoice directed to his employer, writing to Åslund Bäck: “Hello, Evelina! Could you send me a new invoice addressed to Norsk Industri at Stein Lier-Hansen? Same email address.”
In her prompt response, Åslund Bäck was accommodating: “Hey! No problem, I’ll fix it. Should the text specify a conference package with hunting?”
Lier-Hansen confirmed, “Yes! Conference package with hunting is great.”
Documentation introduced by the prosecution showed that he then forwarded the revised invoice to Norsk Industri, noting to finance officer Carla Botten-Verboven: “Hey Carla, can you follow up on this one? There is a gathering of lobbyists after COP26 in relation to follow-up in the EU. They cover most of it themselves; the price only covers the conference part.” Lier-Hansen had also handwritten five names of supposed foreign participants—some of whom appeared on lists from earlier hunting trips involving him.
A Pattern of Requests
A similar exchange took place the next year. On November 6, 2022, Lier-Hansen initiated contact with Åslund Bäck once more, inquiring about arranging another Christmas hunting trip: “Hello again, Evelina! Hope all is well. Can we arrange a conference package in the middle of Christmas? Arrival 23.12, departure 01.01.”
She welcomed the inquiry and reassured him she would look into it. As with the previous year, he received an invoice for top hunting, which once again listed himself and his spouse. Lier-Hansen promptly sought a revised invoice, this time totaling NOK 32,000, stating: “Fine! Can you send an invoice like you did last year to Norsk Industri with me related to the event?”
Once again, Åslund Bäck complied, writing, “Sure, here comes the new one. You can ignore the other one. Have a nice Advent.” Following this, Lier-Hansen forwarded the documentation to his employer while including a note about its relation to COP27.
Previous Engagements and Broader Implications
This was not Lier-Hansen’s first interaction with Joy Event Hunt & Health—his previous engagements trace back to 2019, when he organized a trip involving accommodation and moose hunting for over NOK 165,000, similarly categorized as representation hunting. Økokrim contends that this outing, too, was of a private nature, not a legitimate business expense for Norsk Industri.
Court records revealed disparities between the participant lists provided to Økokrim and those forwarded to Åslund Bäck, with intriguing names appearing in each.
As the trial progresses, the financial dealings and hunting escapades of Lier-Hansen become increasingly scrutinized, as accusations of gross financial infidelity take center stage. This indictment encompasses a range of activities, including numerous hunting trips, salmon fishing, and alleged cabin subletting. While Lier-Hansen has partially admitted to some charges, the specifics remain undisclosed. He stands firm against allegations of gross corruption.
E24 has reached out to Lier-Hansen’s spouse for comments, but she has opted to remain silent on the matter. Attempts to connect with fellow participants have also proven unfruitful. As this saga unfolds, the intricacies of Lier-Hansen’s dealings will continue to captivate public interest.