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Friday, March 29, 2024

Artist Nerdrum loses his appeal

Odd Nerdrum, long considered one of Norway’s most talented artists, received an even longer jail sentence on Wednesday than the one he was appealing. Nerdrum, convicted of tax evasion, now faces two years and 10 months in prison.

Artist Odd Nedrum made a rare appearance on the Norwegian-Swedish talk show "Skavlan," aired on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), during which he not only denied tax evasion but claimed the Norwegian state owed him money. PHOTO: NRK screen grab/Views and News

An appeals court in Oslo granted the lengthier term sought by state prosecutors. Nerdrum had appealed an earlier jail term issued by the Oslo City Court (Oslo tingrett) to the court called Borgarting lagmannsrett.

Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that lead prosecutor Asbjørg Lykkjen was satisfied with the verdict handed down by the court, which hadn’t been expected to rule until after the summer holidays. Nerdrum’s trial ended just a week ago.

Lykkjen claimed that Nerdrum had exploited the Norwegian tax system and that it was important he received what’s considered a lengthy prison term for tax evasion. “As a preventative measure, tax evasion must be strictly punished,” Lykkjen said.

Nerdrum had argued all along that he did not underreport the proceeds of sales of his paintings abroad, had not evaded taxes and that the Norwegian state, by his own calculations, owed him money. Nerdrum has long felt persecuted in Norway and left the country several years ago to live in Iceland. He currently lives in France.

Nerdrum has refused to be interviewed by Norwegian reporters for years but made an appearance on the popular Swedish-Norwegian talk show Skavlan, hosted by Norwegian Fredrik Skavlan. There he claimed the state had been “out to get him” since he debuted as an artist.

Since he likely won’t be allowed to paint in prison, because of rules preventing prisoners from pursing their business interests while incarcerated, Nerdrum also has claimed his prison sentence was a way for the state to push him towards suicide.

His defense counsel had argued for full acquittal of charges Nerdrum had failed to declare as much as NOK 14 million in sales proceeds from his paintings. Nerdrum testified that many of the paintings had been damaged because of a problem with the quality of the paint, and he had merely set aside sales proceeds in case refunds would be demanded.

Views and News from Norway/Nina Berglund

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