Trial of ex-Iceland PM fair, court rules

The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed complaints by former Icelandic prime minister Geir Haarde.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has rejected complaints by former Icelandic prime minister Geir Haarde against his conviction over the country's 2008 banking crisis.

Haarde's trial for gross negligence in 2012 by a special Court of Impeachment had been fair, the ECHR ruled unanimously.

The Icelandic court had cleared Haarde - the only politician prosecuted over the crisis - of three other charges and did not sentence him to any punishment.

The ECHR also rejected, by six votes to one, a complaint by Haarde that the offence for which he was convicted was not clearly set out in law.

Iceland's three main banking groups all collapsed during the crisis, prompting Haarde to resign in January 2009.

At the time, the country's banks racked up debts worth up to 10 times the North Atlantic country's gross domestic product, according to some estimates.

Haarde's conviction was for gross negligence by failing to hold cabinet meetings on important matters relating to the banks ahead of the crisis.

Haarde, 66, is currently serving as Iceland's ambassador to the United States.


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Source: AAP



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