Icelandic court orders police to return confiscated money despite crime suspicions
The Icelandic Landsréttur (District Court) has ruled that the police must return the sum of 7 million and 130 thousand Icelandic krona (approximately 56,000 USD) to a man from whom the money was confiscated in 2021. This ruling confirms an earlier decision by the Reykjavik District Court on July 9.
The police began investigating the man in 2019 for his alleged involvement in organised criminal activities, including drug trafficking, production, storage, and distribution, as well as various financial crimes such as large-scale theft, embezzlement, and money laundering. It is believed that these crimes took place in 2019 and 2020.
In 2021, the police seized the money after they pursued the man, who was driving from Kópavogur to Grindavík. The man was arrested, and a subsequent search of his vehicle revealed the aforementioned sum of money.
Despite the strong suspicion that the money was earned through illegal activities, the man insisted in court that the money was obtained legally and demanded its return. He also claimed that he had provided an explanation for the money’s origin during his police interrogation.
The police requested the court to dismiss the man’s claim, citing a long-standing practice of confiscating money in drug-related cases. However, the court concluded that it was likely that the money was obtained through illegal activities, but the man could not provide a credible explanation for the money’s origin.
However, the court also noted that the investigation into the man began in 2019 and that three years had passed since his money was confiscated. They ruled that as all persons under police investigation have the right to a speedy process, it was unlawful to hold onto the man’s money any longer.
The police were also unable to provide sufficient explanations for why the man’s case had been prolonged other than the fact that the investigation was extensive and the man was reluctant to cooperate during interrogations.
The man’s claim was initially upheld by the Reykjavik District Court and was later confirmed by the Landsréttur a few days later.