A former executive at Norway’s leading industry association, Norsk Industri, testified Wednesday that she believes many people, including herself, were misled regarding expenses run up by the organization’s former director, Stein Lier-Hansen. The testimony came during Lier-Hansen’s trial on charges of corruption and financial impropriety.
Carla Botten Verboven, who served as organizational director at Norsk Industri, approved invoices and travel expenses submitted by Lier-Hansen. She told the court she now believes information she received about the nature of those expenses was inaccurate. The case centers on allegations that Lier-Hansen used company funds for personal expenses, including hunting and fishing trips.
Prosecutor Bård Thorsen presented three invoices from 2021 for hunting and cabin rentals, detailing how Lier-Hansen explained the expenses to Verboven, the NHO’s financial director, and a representative from the accounting firm PWC. Lier-Hansen reportedly provided a list of attendees and stated that important topics related to Norsk Industri were discussed in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
Yet, Lier-Hansen has since admitted that many of the individuals he claimed were present on the hunting trip did not actually attend, raising questions about the legitimacy of the expenses. This discrepancy prompted Thorsen to ask Verboven for her reaction.
“If what you are saying is correct, this appears to me as a personal betrayal,” Verboven responded.
Lier-Hansen has acknowledged providing inaccurate information to Verboven, stating she was unaware he was subletting hunting rights and pocketing the difference. “That wasn’t good,” Lier-Hansen said earlier in the trial, adding that he didn’t seek to make it difficult for Verboven to verify the invoices.
Les også
Lier-Hansens «jaktgjest»: – Simpelthen latterlig
A Powerful Figure in Norwegian Industry
Lier-Hansen was Verboven’s direct supervisor from 2008 until his departure as CEO of Norsk Industri in 2024.
– My relationship with Lier-Hansen was a normal working relationship that I’ve had with previous leaders and other colleagues. I don’t know him personally, and we don’t have a close relationship. I am a fairly private person myself, and I clearly separate my private life from work. I have never participated in representational activities,” Verboven said.
She further stated that she had great trust in Lier-Hansen and noted that he received positive feedback from both the board and members.
– He achieved good results in the area of industrial policy and was described as one of Norway’s most powerful men. He was a traditional leader – there was no doubt who was the boss at Norsk Industri.
Didn’t Question the Boss
The prosecutor asked Verboven several questions about her role in connection with Lier-Hansen’s invoices and expense reports.
Verboven explained that her job was to approve the expenses after they had been reviewed by the accountant. Invoices and supporting documents were kept in a plastic folder in Lier-Hansen’s office, she said.
– My assessment was that it was not my role to overrule the managing director’s professional assessment of the need for representation.
