Daily Northern

Nordic News, Every Day

Menu

KPMG to investigate allegations of financial misconduct against former Strandabyggð official Jón Jónsson

Sunday 14th 2024 on 15:35 in  
Iceland

Auditing firm KPMG is set to investigate payments made by Strandabyggð to Jón Jónsson and his linked companies during his tenure in the local government. This investigation was initiated by Jón himself, who, along with his family, has been heavily weighed down by allegations of financial misconduct.

Jón Jónsson, a sociologist, says the most severe accusations involve embezzlement from the local community’s fund, amounting to almost 62 million. He has tried to get Strandabyggð to look into these allegations made by the local government and his wife against him. Jón served on the municipal council from 2010-2014 and again from 2019-2022. During this term, the current mayor was dismissed from his position. He then sued the municipality following his dismissal, where the conclusion was that the dismissal was executed in an unusually harmful manner. The municipality was then ordered to pay him 500 thousand in damages. The mayor resumed his previous position following local government elections last year. Jón says the mayor accused the then local government of various inconsistencies.

Jón had announced that he intended to collect signatures for a local election to force an investigation. After a meeting with the local government, it was agreed that KPMG would review all payments from the municipality’s funds to Jón and the companies and institutions associated with him. Jón says there was no other way to bring forward the correct information, as people refused to respond when he asked for more detailed information.

Sigríður Guðbjörg Jónsdóttir, the deputy mayor of Strandabyggð, hopes that the investigation’s conclusion will put the matter to rest. She says the issue revolves around personal disputes and, therefore, was not addressed in the local government. Jón disagrees, stating that these are accusations that he has robbed the community, so it directly involves the municipality.

Jón says the allegations have heavily impacted him and his family, especially as they come from people in power. The conclusion from KPMG’s investigation is expected in September. He hopes that the review’s findings will somewhat settle the disputes but acknowledges that they have already caused significant division in the community.