Former Kaupthing chairman Sigurður Einarsson has been on the defensive, calling the charges against him “groundless” and saying that he wants an investigation conducted on the investigation of the special prosecutor.
shortly after former Kaupthing manager Hreiðar Már Sigurðsson and two staff members close to him, Steingrímur Kárason and Ingólfur Helgason, were arrested last May, special prosecutor Ólafur Þ. Hauksson announced that Sigurður was now wanted by Interpol. Sigurður was obstinate, insisting that he would not return to Iceland without assurances that he would not be arrested and detained, and refused to leave his home in the UK. His lawyer – attorney for the rich and powerful Ian Burton – accused the special prosecutor of behaving “like John Wayne in a cowboy movie.” The matter seemed to have stalemated, and for a long time, Sigurður was off the radar.
However, two weeks ago Sigurður returned to Iceland. He was not arrested, but did undergo questioning. Speaking to Fréttablaðið, he said he believes the investigation demonstrates violence and abuse of power. He added that he wanted the special prosecutor’s work methods investigated.
The special prosecutor, for his part, did not seem particularly moved. “The article does not occasion any particular reaction from the office of the special prosecutor,” he said in part. “His words will be judged on their own in the end.”