Government to Implement Eva Joly's recommendations on the Office of Special Prosecutor

At a cabinet meeting on 24 March, the Minister of Justice presented plans for substantially boosting financial allocations to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which was set up to investigate matters concerning the collapse of the financial system. She informed a press conference that the Office’s expenditure could be expected to amount to ISK 170 million annually, excluding payment for the services of foreign specialists engaged.

Employees of the office will increase substantially in number. They were originally expected to be four to start with, and up to nine in the latter half of the year. They are now expected to number up to 16 at the end of this year. Suggestions for building up the Office have come from Eva Joly, who has been advising the Ministry of Justice. According to original estimates, the cost of operating the Office of the Special Prosecutor was to be ISK 50 million for the first year.
Eva Joly will continue to advise the Office and specialists recommended by her will assist Icelandic investigators in their work, especially when investigating cases extending into other countries.

The Minister of Justice has previously introduced a bill of legislation, greatly expanding the legal authorisations of the Special Prosecutor, which is currently being debated in the Althingi. During the latter half of 2010 the Office and its activities will be reviewed, as provided for in the current legislation. According to these provisions, the Minister of Justice may then disband the Office, after having obtained the opinion of the State Prosecutor. Its tasks would then be transferred to the police or public prosecutors for handling under general provisions of applicable legislation.