New developments have arisen in a case of slave labour in south Iceland. The managing director of Icewear has disavowed any knowledge of worker conditions, while the man responsible for forcing two women from Sri Lanka to sew clothing for Icewear is now in police custody.
As reported, a police raid of a home in Vík, south Iceland, revealed that two women were locked in a basement and forced to sew clothing for Vonta International, a company owned by their captor. This clothing was in turn sold to Icewear.
Ágúst Þór Eiríksson, the managing director of Icewear, told RÚV that Icewear nullifying their contract with Vonta last Thursday had nothing to do with the case, but was due to Vonta being in arrears on payments. Ágúst said furthermore that they had no idea slave labour was being practiced at Vonta, as no one had actually witnessed worker conditions there.
Vísir reports that the captor, who is also from Sri Lanka, will remain in police custody until at least March 18. Police are reportedly familiar with the man, as he has twice had restraining orders issued against him by his wife.
In a statement issued by police, they say investigations are still at a sensitive point. As such, they will not be releasing further details on the case at this time.
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