Bogi Ísak Nilsson, former state prosecutor, dies at 85

Bogi Ísak Nilsson, a former state prosecutor and national police commissioner, died at his home on Thursday, August 13, aged 85, after a short but serious illness, mbl.is reported.

Nilsson was born in Siglufjörður on November 24, 1940, and grew up there. His parents were office manager Nils Ísaksson and homemaker Steinunn Stefánsdóttir.

He studied law at the University of Iceland, graduating in 1968. He began his career as an assistant to the district commissioner and town bailiff in Akureyri.

In 1976, he became district commissioner in South Múlasýsla and town bailiff in Eskifjörður. In 1986, he was appointed director of the state criminal investigation police.

Nilsson became the first national police commissioner when the office was established in 1997. He was appointed state prosecutor from January 1, 1998, and held the position until January 1, 2008. In later years, he occasionally served as acting state prosecutor in several cases handled by the office.

He also worked as a lawyer with the right to appear before the Supreme Court, taught and wrote academic articles on public procedural law.

Nilsson was a versatile athlete who achieved particular success in skiing. He also contributed to the development of sports facilities in northern and eastern Iceland. During the 1970s and 1980s, he served on the boards of the golf clubs in Akureyri and Eskifjörður and was involved in establishing and developing the ski area at Oddsskarð.

He is survived by his wife, Elsa Petersen. They had three children, Bernhard Nils, Bogi Nils and Anna María, as well as nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Nilsson will be buried from Bústaðakirkja church on Friday, August 28, at 1pm.