MP says parole law gave authorities permission, not duty

Grímur Grímsson, a member of Iceland’s Viðreisn party, says a temporary law allowed foreign prisoners to be released on parole after serving one third of their sentences, but did not require their release, mbl.is reported.

His comments came after Angjelin Sterkaj was released on parole and sent to Albania about five years after the murder in Rauðagerði. He was also banned from returning to the Schengen area.

Grímsson, who presented the bill in parliament, said he understood why it was controversial that Sterkaj was now free. He said the purpose of the law was to deport foreign prisoners who were not expected to integrate into Icelandic society.

Asked whether the most serious offences could have been excluded from the temporary provision, Grímsson said that would have been possible, but that parliament had nevertheless adopted the measure in its current form.

He rejected the suggestion that the release sent a message to criminals that serious offences could be committed in Iceland without severe consequences. The measure was temporary, he said, and people who commit offences now would not simply be released and deported under the same arrangement.

Grímsson said the law provided only an authorisation for parole. The decision to release Sterkaj and deport him was made by the prison authorities, he said, and those authorities must explain why they did so.