The Court of Appeal has sentenced the former president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) to three years in prison for aggravated corruption.

In April 2024, Anders Besseberg (79) was found guilty on nine of ten counts in the extensive indictment of aggravated corruption during the period from 2009 to 2018, when he served as president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

During this period, Besseberg allegedly received numerous bribes, including hunting trips and trophies, watches, prostitutes, and a leased car he had at his disposal in Norway from 2011 to 2018.

He denied – and still denies – criminal liability and immediately appealed the decision.

Now the Court of Appeal has concluded in the appeal case, upholding the conviction with only a minor adjustment. The new sentence is three years and one month in prison.

His hunting companion is shocked.

“I was absolutely certain that he would receive a much lighter sentence. I never thought the reaction would be this severe,” he said.

Appeals to the Supreme Court

Besseberg is now appealing the verdict to the Supreme Court. This was confirmed by his defense attorney, Fredrik Berg.

“We believe it is natural for the Supreme Court to consider this standard and provide guidance,” Berg told NRK.

The reason is this: In most other countries, one can only be convicted of corruption if one has both received something and given something in return. In Norway, it is sufficient to prove that an advantage was received, also called undue inducement. This is the standard Berg is referring to.

“Here, we must note that there are dissenting opinions in the ruling. That must mean this is a borderline case, indicating that the standard is unclear, and it is difficult to predict what constitutes criminal inducement. We believe this deserves clarification in the Supreme Court,” said Berg.

Økokrim disagrees

Marianne Djupesland, the prosecutor from Økokrim (Norway’s National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime), does not share the defense’s view.

“Our position is that this has already been settled by several Supreme Court rulings,” Djupesland told NRK.

Background of the case

In April 2024, Anders Besseberg (79) was found guilty on nine of ten counts in the extensive indictment of aggravated corruption during the period from 2009 to 2018, when he was president of the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

Besseberg allegedly received numerous bribes in this period, including hunting trips and trophies, watches, prostitutes, and a leased car in Norway from 2011 to 2018.

In the first trial, Besseberg was found guilty on nine of ten counts and sentenced to more than three years in prison. The only charges he was acquitted of concerned a watch exchange and individual offers of prostitutes.

He immediately appealed the verdict.

Last fall, the court granted a retrial, initiating a new court proceeding. That trial took place in April of this year at the Borgarting Court of Appeal in Oslo.

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