Heated on Iceland Following Bribery Scandal

Four executives at Samherji have hired lawyers to prepare their defence against accusations against the company of bribery and tax evasion, according to RUV.

Garðar G. Gíslason, Samherji’s lawyer, points out that neither the business nor any individuals working for it are currently official suspects in any investigation and nobody has yet been called for questioning. 

The mood in the Icelandic parliament, Alþingi, was turbulent yesterday during unprepared question time. Fisheries minister Kristján Þór Júlíusson was asked whether he would resign following Saturday’s protest during which some 4,000 people gathered to call for him to step down. He responded that he will not.  

Kristján Þór is under fire because he once served as chair of the board at Samherji and is a close friend of outgoing chairman Þorsteinn Már Baldvinsson.