Controversial ex-police officer denies link to Krokstadelva fire relief fund

An ex-police officer convicted of fraud has denied any involvement in a 25 million-kroner fundraising campaign for families left homeless by the Krokstadelva fire, despite company records showing him as a director and chair.

Sturle Ingemann Sandnes, 58, was sentenced to three years in prison in 1999 and four years and six months in 2006 for aggravated fraud and embezzlement. Norwegian business registries list him as the chair of Sgfi AS, the company designated to receive donations through the “Houses for the uninsured in Krokstadelva fire” campaign on the Spleis platform. Sandnes claims he resigned on 1 July and that a 15 March board protocol names Edward John Hughes as chair.

Brønnøysundregistrene, Norway’s central company registry, told Dagbladet that Sandnes only filed his resignation as chair and authorised signatory today, 23 July, after the newspaper contacted him. A registry spokeswoman said the resignation was processed automatically upon receipt.

Hughes, who set up the Spleis campaign, said Sandnes has no access to the funds and no role in the collection. “He has no power of disposition over anything,” Hughes told the paper. Sandnes, reached by telephone, insisted he knew nothing about the campaign and wanted no part in it. “I wasn’t aware of the Spleis. I don’t want to be part of it,” he said.

After Dagbladet contacted both men, Hughes posted an update on the campaign page saying he was considering annulling the collection entirely. As of Thursday evening, the fund had received 10,178 kroner from 44 donors.