Bjarte Baasland
Bjarte Baasland (born 5 March 1974) is a former Norwegian businessman and convicted fraudster.
Bjarte Baasland | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 1974 Norway |
| Occupation | Former businessman |
| Criminal status | Convicted |
| Spouse | Bodhild Baasland |
| Criminal charge | Fraud |
| Penalty | Sentenced to four years in prison |
He became famous in Norway in connection with the Baasland case in the autumn of 2008, when it was revealed that he had gambled away almost 60 million kr (more than €7 million) that he borrowed from family friends and banks.
He is the son of Ernst Baasland, who at the time was a Bishop of Stavanger in the Church of Norway. A consequence of the Baasland case was that Ernst Baasland resigned as Bishop and went personally bankrupt along with his wife, Bodhild Baasland, who is also under investigation for fraud. On 2 October 2009, Bjarte Baasland was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 4 years in prison and to return NOK 26,6 million to one of his creditors, Cecilie Nustad.