Crime
Most read
Latest
-
RVK Newscast #151: The Oldest Icelander Ever!
Welcome back to RVK Newscast! In this episode editor-in-chief Valur Gretttison visits Hellisgerði in Hafnarfjörður to go over the latest news in Iceland: cybersecurity, weird walrus polemics and a new record for the oldest person in Iceland. [su_pullquote]You can now take walking…
-
RVK Newscast #150: Iceland’s Plastic Shame
In this 150th episode of Reykjavík Grapevine’s Newscast, editor-in-chief Valur Grettisson brings you a special breaking news story regarding Iceland’s plastics recycling – or as it turns out, lack thereof. Bjartmar Alexandersson, who you may know from our show ‘The Icelandic Perspective’,…
-
Tests For Potential Drugging Not Conducted Unless An Investigation Is Underway
When a person who comes to the emergency room after a sexual assault, a blood test for potential drugging is not conducted unless a criminal investigation has been started, Hrönn Stefánsdóttir, the project manager for sexual assault emergency services, tells RÚV. Upon…
-
Man Shot By Police Under Two Week Custody
The armed man police shot and wounded in Egilsstaðir last Thursday is being held in custody for two weeks in the interest of the police investigation and public safety. Violations being considered in this case include attempted murder, physical assault, making threats,…
-
Police Report Less Theft In July
Crime in the Reykjavík area went down in the month of July when compared to statistics from the month prior. Overall, 895 criminal offences were registered in the capital area last month. This was stated in the monthly report from the Chief…
-
Mysterious Remains Found In Hveragerði
Police are investigating bones and other remains found yesterday evening in Hveragerði, Vísir reports. The bag of remains was found in a lava field above Hveragerði by hikers. Oddur Árnason, chief of police in southern Iceland, confirmed the findings yesterday evening and…
-
Suspicions Of Severe Tax Violations Related To Airbnb
Airbnb provides a platform for people to rent out to tourists various accommodations, such as apartments, cottages, and more. Data from the site was obtained by the Director of Tax Investigations and has led to suspicions of large-scale tax violations by Icelanders.…
-
Man Stabbed In Downtown Reykjavík Over The Weekend
Friday night, a man endured a stab wound to the abdomen after another man attacked him outside the restaurant Fjallkona in the city center. The victim was transported to Landspítali hospital in critical condition. A suspect was arrested the following morning and…
-
People Coming Into Iceland To Steal Rare Bird Eggs
There are concerns that individuals will come to Iceland for the sole purpose of stealing rare eggs, Vísir reports. The chairman of the board of the Icelandic Falcon Centre says that it is unusually common these days for falcon eggs to disappear,…
-
Lost in Google Translation – Maximum Crime, Minimum Punishment
Hey! Are you a no good, lousy, stinking criminal? Do you want to nab as much swag as you can with as few consequences as possible? Well, as a journalist, I have news for you! The punishment for stealing everything in Iceland…
-
Prosecutors Demand Accused Arsonist Be Sentenced For Life
Prosecutors are demanding that Marek Moszczynski, who is alleged to have set fire to a house on Bræðraborgarstígur last summer, be sentenced to life in prison. He has been charged with three murders and ten attempted murders, among other things. If the…
-
Fewer People In Prison Than Majority Of Europe, But The Number Is Rising
Iceland is on the list of European countries where the number of prisoners has steadily increased the most proportionally. From January 2019 to January 2020, the number of prisoners in Iceland increased by 11.7%, the third largest increase after Malta and Cyprus.…
-
Three Charged With Smuggling Drugs Into Iceland
Three people, two women and one man, have been charged with importing five thousand e-tablets, five kilograms of hashish, one hundred pieces of LSD and 250 grams of methamphetamine from Spain, Fréttablaðið reports. One woman smuggled the methamphetamine inside of a sanitary napkin…
-
Discussion About Criminal Groups May Lead To Prejudice Against Immigrants
In an interview with RÚV, Margrét Valdimarsdóttir, criminologist and lecturer at the University of Akureyri, said that a discussion about criminal groups will lead to increased funding for the Icelandic police. She also believes that there is a risk that this will…
-
Discussions Over Whether Police Weapon Rules Need To Be Reviewed
In light of the recent shooting of an Albanian man in Rauðagerði, there are discussions taking place over whether the police in Iceland need to review their weapon rules. Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, National Commissioner of Police, told Bylgjan yesterday that reviews on…
-
COVID Affected Criminal Behaviour – But Not The Statistics
It made national headlines when the police in Iceland asked criminals to take it easy at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, but it seems, surprisingly, that the police were wasting their breath. According to the crime statistics for the dreadful year…
-
50 Defendants In ISK 800 Million Money Laundering Case
RÚV has reported there are now 50 defendants in the extensive money laundering case where over 800 million ISK was laundered. This case may be connected to drug smugglers in South America. This investigation, which is being carried out by the District…
-
Three Homicide Cases In The Courts, One Being Investigated, This Year Alone
The District Prosecutor has formally charged a man in his fifties for murder, RÚV reports, by having thrown someone from a balcony in Reykjavík last December. In all, this marks three homicide cases in the Icelandic court system this year alone—highly unusual…
-
Stalking May Soon Be Punishable By Up To Four Years In Prison
Those convicted of stalking may face up to four years in prison, if a bill from Minister of Justice Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir becomes law, Fréttablaðið reports. The bill is being welcomed by women’s shelter workers and the police alike. As it stands…
-
Prisons Director Wants Decriminalisation Of Drugs In Consumption Quantities
Páll Winkel, the director of Iceland’s prison system, does not believe the government is doing enough to confront the issue of those convicted of drug offenses, RÚV reports, pointing out that anywhere from 50% to 70% of Icelandic prisoners suffer from drug…
-
Three Men Get Caught For Stealing Eider Eggs
Three men were caught stealing eider eggs from a nesting site at Stafnes near Sandgerði on Reykjanes Peninsula earlier this week, Vísir reports. This was announced by the local police, who elaborated that the person who reported the men in question saw…
-
14-Year Prison Sentence For Icelander Who Killed Two In Selfoss Fire
Vigfús Ólafsson has been convicted of manslaughter and arson for his involvement in a house fire that killed two in Selfoss in October 2018. The Supreme Court upheld the the decision to sentence 54-year-old Vigfús to 14 years in prison. In October…
-
Icelandic Man Arrested For Murder In Florida
A 28-year-old Icelandic man was arrested and charged with murder in Pensacola, Florida, on Monday, April 20th. Police allege that the man shot and killed a guest in his home earlier that day. He is currently detained in Escambia County Jail. Stefán…