Bjørn Haugan, a journalist for VG, has refused to answer questions relating to the trial of Stein Lier-Hansen, who is accused of misusing nearly 500,000 Norwegian kroner of company funds for personal dining and entertainment. Haugan states that his decision is supported by VG, indicating a potentially broader editorial strategy regarding the case.

In the trial, Haugan is associated with a total of 147 receipts amounting to 260,000 kroner, which has raised suspicions about his attendance at these dinners. Økokrim, the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, is pressing for clarification on whether Haugan was present at the events linked to the receipts, suggesting a probing into the ethics and financial activities attendant to the Norwegian journalism landscape.

This case not only casts a shadow on Stein Lier-Hansen and his former role in Norsk Industri but also raises significant questions about ethical journalism and the accountability of media professionals. The outcome of this trial and the journalist's refusal to testify could have implications for transparency within the industry and the potential for conflicts of interest in reporting related to corporate governance.