Parliament to discuss data leak and special prosecutor's conduct
It is believed that the committee will likely call Minister of Justice Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, District Prosecutor Ólafur Þór Hauksson, and State Prosecutor Sigríður J. Friðjónsdóttir to its meeting. Composite image/mbl.is/Hari/Eggert/Karítas
Today, Alþingi will address the controversial data leak involving the former Office of the Special Prosecutor. The matter will be taken up both in the afternoon parliamentary session and in a meeting of the Constitutional and Oversight Committee (SEN).
While no detailed discussion is expected at the committee level today, members will review the status and potential scope of the issue. It is likely that Minister of Justice Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir will soon be summoned to an open committee meeting, while District Prosecutor Ólafur Þór Hauksson and State Prosecutor Sigríður J. Friðjónsdóttir may be invited to closed meetings.
Countless questions arise
Opposition MPs have raised serious concerns about working methods used by the Special Prosecutor’s office after Iceland’s financial collapse. One MP noted that so far, more questions have arisen than answers, and some answers have only deepened the mystery.
Article on Iceland Monitor
No reason to resign, says former special prosecutor amid data theft probe
A focal point of criticism is a 2012 contract between the Special Prosecutor and PPP, a private research company accused of surveillance. Though Hauksson publicly distanced himself from the company, documents suggest he and his office were fully aware of its operations and clientele. The contract was reportedly incorrectly dated, and office staff worked unusually closely with bankruptcy liquidators—even allowing them unrestricted access to archives, particularly regarding the Milestone case.
This raises ethical and legal questions, especially as one of those involved, Grímur Grímsson, is now a sitting member of Parliament.
