Prosecutors have expanded charges against Trond Kristoffersen, one of two defendants in the biggest financial scandal in Norwegian history. The co-founder of collapsed Finance Credit is pleading "not guilty," though, to 21 of the 22 counts against him.
Kristoffersen's lawyers tried to get his trial postponed, claiming Kristoffersen is depressed and unable to defend himself. The court rejected the request, and proceedings started on Thursday.
The fraud case is expected to go on until Easter. Kristoffersen and co-defendant Torgeir Stensrud are accused of defrauding several Norwegian banks of around NOK 1.4 billion (US$200 million) by falsifying documents and inflating results of their debt collection agency.
