Former Kaupthing director Sigurður Einarsson (shown here in his Interpol “wanted” page) – along with one of the company’s biggest clients, Robert Tchenguiz – were arrested in London this morning in a joint operation of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of Britain and the office of the special prosecutor in Iceland.
Vísir reports that the offices of both men and the homes of eight individuals altogether were searched, resulting in seven arrests made by the SFO in London and Essex. According to sources speaking to Vísir, Sigurður and Tchenguiz are two of those arrested.
The searches were conducted in connection with the collapse of Kaupthing, according to the SFO, and 135 policemen took part in the operation.
In Reykjavík, the homes of two as yet unnamed individuals were searched, resulting in the arrest of both.
The Guardian reports that along with the aforementioned arrests, Robert’s brother Vincent and former head of the UK arm of Kaupthing Ármann Þorvaldsson were also taken into custody.
Grapevine readers will probably remember Sigurður Einarsson, who was wanted by Interpol last year, and spent some time holed up in the UK while fighting extradition to Iceland. In the end, Sigurður did return to Iceland and was questioned, but was then released from custody pending further investigations.
Related:
Wants Investigation Investigated
Former Kaupthing Chairman: Charges “Without Merit”
Kaupthing Investigation Spreads into British Business World
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
