Sævar reaffirms innocence as Dettifoss trial begins

Sævar Örn Hilmarsson, who is suspected of helping organise the import of 14 litres of amphetamine base in the Dettifoss case, says he is innocent and does not trust the prosecution to handle his case fairly, mbl.is reports.

He read the statement in court shortly after the main trial began on Wednesday. Sævar said he intended to exercise his right to answer questions from the prosecution, but also said he would prefer to read his statement rather than respond because he did not trust prosecutors to interpret the case evidence correctly.

Sævar said he had no involvement in importing drugs into Iceland. One of the charged crew members knew him through friendship, while he did not know the other. He said he had known co-defendant Kastriot Pepaj for a long time, but had never discussed drugs with any of them.

Testimony from the crew members has referred to communications with a person using the name Claud on the Signal messaging app. Sævar said he had not used that name. A phone found at his home had belonged to the person known as Claud, he said, but police had not been able to establish that Sævar owned it.

He added that none of the defendants had accused him or confirmed that he was Claud.

Sævar also said he had been in a poor mental state when he was arrested on April 13 and was in no condition to organise a drug importation.

“I reaffirm my innocence in this case,” he said.

“The prosecution is pursuing a course against me and does not hesitate to bend the truth,” Sævar said.