Runar Søgaard (born 27 June 1967 in Kongsvinger, Hedmark, Norway) is a Norwegian leadership trainer, life-coach, motivational speaker and former preacher.[1][2] He was earlier married to singer Carola Häggkvist.[3]
In 2012 his business Vinger Consulting AB was threatened with bankruptcy following a lawsuit by On Strategies LLC.[4][5]
Activism
editIn April 2005 he created some reaction during a speech in Stockholm, by saying that the Islamic prophet Muhammad had been a pedophile.[6] This led to some condemnation and protests. During the same sermon he also made disparaging remarks about Jesus and Siddharta. Søgaard received threats from radical Islamists. Author and columnist Jan Guillou at the Aftonbladet news paper called for calm and wrote "it would be of great harm for Sweden's Muslims if Søgaard was harmed".[7]
Legal problems
editIn November 2014, Søgaard was convicted for a third time of violating accounting laws, and sentenced by Nacka district court to two months of prison. He served his two-month sentence, by wearing an ankle monitor.[8][9]
In 2019 he was convicted for tax evasion. In 2021 he lost in appellate court and was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.[10] As of 11 June 2021, he is planning to appeal to the Supreme Court.[11][12] according to Søgaard's lawyer.
Personal life
editFrom 1990 to 2000 Søgaard was married to the successful Swedish singer Carola Häggkvist. Together they have a son, Amadeus, born in 1998. He married for a second time in 2008 and has two sons in that marriage.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel". 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel". 11 June 2021.
- ^ Alexander Klanderud:Runar Søgaard gifter seg Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Norwegian) Glomdalen.no, July 9, 2008.
- ^ Carlsen, Carina Charlotte (5 December 2012). "Runar Søgaard trues med konkurs". NA24. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ Hellberg, Magnus (12 March 2012). "Runar Sögaard krävs på pengar". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ Aftonbladet: "Runar går till attack mot islam" Archived 19 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Aftonbladet: "Runars martyrskap vore en skada för landets muslimer"". Archived from the original on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ "Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel: Anker saken". 11 June 2021.
- ^ Mogen, Trym (18 November 2014). "Kjendispastor Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 19 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ "Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel: Anker saken". 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel". 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Runar Søgaard dømt til fengsel: Anker saken". 11 June 2021.
- ^ Vassbotten, Arve (18 February 2012). "Runar Søgaard ble pappa for tredje gang". Seher (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
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