One Year In Prison For Blackmail

A 36-year-old man has been sentenced to a year in prison for attempting to blackmail a wealthy couple in Ísafjörður out of 100 million ISK.

Vísir reports that the blackmailer sent a letter to the couple at the end of October 2012, demanding payment by November 20. Instructions were given as to where and when to pay the money, adding that the blackmailer was “collecting money from rich people who got rich off of Iceland’s resources at the expense of Icelanders.”

The letter also said that the blackmailer was not working alone. The blackmailer wrote that he was a part of a network of people experienced in collecting money from people, and that more wealthy people would be targeted. These wealthy individuals would have to pay up, by force if necessary.

The couple, fearing for their lives, went to the police. The suspect was apprehended shortly thereafter.

In addition to the prison sentence, the suspect – who denies the charges against him – will have to pay 800,000 ISK in damages and 300,000 ISK in legal fees.