Police in Britain have yet to move forward with Iceland’s request to arrest and extradite former Kaupthing chairman Sigurður Einarsson, but Minister of Justice Ragna Árnadóttir says the extradition agreement between Iceland and the UK is perfectly valid.
Sigurður had been asked to come to Iceland by the special prosecutor for questioning with regards to some of his former employees engaging in market manipulation and fraud. Sigurður refused to come to Iceland unless he was promised that he wouldn’t be arrested. The special prosecutor subsequently filed charges against him with Interpol.
Initially, it was pointed out that Iceland is not a signatory of a European treaty that allows extradition, and could not be a signatory, as Iceland is not in the European Union. However, the Minister of Justice contends that Iceland has an extradition agreement with the UK.
Sources closes to Vísir report that Sigurður’s case has been given a number at Scotland Yard, and that processing could take a few more days.
Should the British, for whatever reason, decide not to extradite Sigurður to Iceland, they are still obligated to assist Iceland in the matter, contends the minister. This could include housing him in custody while the special prosecutor comes to the UK to question him.