Six Icelanders face trial over alleged Reykholt abduction

The main hearing in the Reykholt case began at the District Court of South Iceland on Monday, mbl.is reports. The proceedings are expected to continue until Tuesday, August 25.

The case concerns six Icelanders, five men and one woman, charged over an alleged serious violent offence in Reykholt in South Iceland two years ago.

According to the indictment, the defendants entered the home of a Maltese citizen of Palestinian origin, tied him up and subjected him to severe violence. He was allegedly held captive and threatened with a knife and a shotgun to force him to hand over his electronic identification and banking details.

Some 17.6 million Icelandic krónur were then transferred from his account, and airline tickets were purchased in his name. The man was eventually forced to fly to Malta, where it emerged that he had suffered very serious injuries.

The defendants range in age from 19 to their seventies and are related to one another. They all pleaded not guilty when the case was formally heard in March.