Jailed Bankers Complain Michael Moore Filmed Them

Bankers currently serving prison sentences have filed a formal complaint, saying filmmaker Michael Moore filmed them without their permission, amongst other grievances.

RÚV reports that Magnús Guðmundsson, Ólafur Ólafsson and Sigurður Einarsson, all of whom are currently doing time in Kvíabryggja prison for market manipulation and fraud, have filed a formal complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Amongst their complaints is that filmmaker Michael Moore had filmed them without their permission, as a part of his latest movie, Where To Invade Next. The three contend Moore was given special permission to visit the prison, where he conducted some filming and spoke with other prisoners. Kjarninn reports that Moore had tried to interview the jailed bankers, to no avail, and that attempts were made to prevent Moore from even visiting the prison.

The bankers are also displeased with local media coverage about them. They have complained that confidential information leaked to the press that some prisoners have requested red wine with their meals on special occasions. They are also displeased that Director of the Icelandic Prison Service Páll Winkel implied in a recent interview that certain individuals “connected to the 2008 financial crash” had attempted to bribe him.

The jailed bankers contend Páll’s behaviour is unprofessional and perhaps illegal. He has until February 1 to respond to the Ombudsman about these accusations.