Lawyer interprets for one defendant and defends another in bank case

A lawyer interpreted for one defendant before representing another at a preliminary hearing in a major Icelandic bank fraud case, mbl.is reported.

Felicia Mariana Pralea, of Opus lawyers, interpreted for a defendant in the case and then put on her lawyer’s robe to act as defence counsel for another. Pralea is from Romania, earned a master’s degree in law from Reykjavik University in 2022 and qualified to practise as a lawyer in 2024.

The case involves 71 people charged with fraud and money laundering in connection with a system error at Reiknistofa bankanna, a banking data-processing centre. Prosecutors say the error was exploited to defraud Landsbankinn of tens of millions of krónur that were not available in the accounts, with attempts made to withdraw the money in cash.

The main trial is expected to take place outside a courthouse, as did the Bankastræti Club case. Up to 38 defendants may attend the main proceedings. Interpreting is also required because many of the accused do not speak Icelandic as their first language. At Wednesday’s preliminary hearing, interpretation was provided in English, Romanian and Russian.