Økonomisk Kriminalitet Nordiske Perspektiver - Scandinavian ...

In 2006 enrichment offences took up more time of the prosecutor of economic
crimes than in the previous years. Accounting crimes also increased in 2006.
Offences regarding fishing industries were 16% of reported economic crimes in
2003 but no offences of that type are reported between 2004 and 2006 (figure 4).
In 2004 there is an increase in violations against the criminal code other than
general criminal code. Environmental law violations are very rarely sent to the
prosecutor of economic crimes by the Environmental Agency of Iceland (figure 4).
To sum up, the majority of cases handled by the Economic crime division are
sent from the Directorate of Tax Investigations. Then there is a high percentage of
cases charged to the police involving embezzlement and fraud, but only a few
cases are sent from the major regulatory agencies. The Economic crime division
rarely has large cases like the prosecution of Baugur group to deal with, but such
cases have always proved very difficult for the division because of insufficient
resources. Most of the cases that go to trial are smaller and more straight forward.
The Special Prosecutor
On February 1 st
2009 the Special Prosecutor took office. The Special Prosecutor
has the role to investigate suspicions of criminal actions in the period preceding, in
connection with or in the wake of the collapse of the Icelandic banks and follow
up on these investigations by bringing charges in court against those concerned
(www.serstakursaksoknari.is/english).
The authorisations granted to the office to investigate and lay charges cover
economic violations, gainful offences and taxation infringements, including
offences which have been investigated by the Directorate of Tax Investigations in
Iceland, the Icelandic Competition Authority and the Icelandic Financial
Supervisory Authority where criminal charges have been laid
(www.serstakursaksoknari.is/english).
Specific provision is made in the Act on the Special Prosecutor for
collaboration as necessary with the Directorate of Tax Investigations, the Financial
Supervisory Authority, the Competition Authority and other regulatory and
supervisory institutions. Upon request, these institutions will provide the
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