Jón Ásgeir Jóhanneson

On mafia involvement in the energy sector

September 5, 2010

Sigrún Davíðsdóttir, one of Iceland’s best investigative reporters [she blogs in English here] recently broadcast a fascinating report on increased mafia investments in the energy sector, on current affairs radio programme Spegillinn, which airs on RÚV, weekdays at 18.30. Sigrún bases her information on a report by Europol on the mafia’s involvement in the energy [...]

Full article →

Jón Ásgeir’s amazing disappearing act!

July 14, 2010

As I wrote about a few days ago, a London judge has expressed doubts that old Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson [ex-oligarch] has made a full disclosure of his assets, as he was ordered to do by the court. The Glitnir resolution committee, which has brought charges against Jón Ásgeir in New York, claims it has evidence [...]

Full article →

More tales of highway robbery, courtesy of the usual suspects

June 10, 2010

Just when you think you’ve heard everything, along something new to scandalize. It has now been revealed that the previous owners of Apple in Iceland — Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson and friends under the Baugur Group umbrella — cleaned out the “repair fund” of the company before it went bust in late 2008. By “repair fund” [...]

Full article →

On making amends

April 29, 2010

Back in January I wrote a wee post about Iceland’s future economic prospects, in particular the fact that a company called Verne Holding was looking to construct a data centre on the Reykjanes peninsula. The idea of setting up a data centre in Iceland is excellent. Data centres require a lot of cooling, so the [...]

Full article →

Frozen!!

April 21, 2010

Finally, FINALLY, a freezing order has been imposed on the assets of two of Iceland’s [former] moguls – Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson and Hannes Smárason. There has been much talk lately about the evident mismanagement of funds in FL Group, of which Hannes Smárason was CEO and which was a subsidiary of Baugur Group. The issue [...]

Full article →

Of oligarchs, the media, and the truth

April 11, 2010

So old Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson continues to stun and amaze. A few days ago he announced he would be suing the Glitnir winding-up committee for libel because they suggested he had abused his position as the owner of the bank. Now he’s sending messages to the Minister of Finance, via the press, that Steingrímur should  [...]

Full article →

The case of the missing smiley

April 9, 2010

So old Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson is now on a rabid offensive, threatening to sue the Glitnir winding-up committee for libel over the charges I wrote about in the last post. Jón Ásgeir claims the emails that have been released were all cut apart and taken out of context and – what’s worse – EDITED. There’s [...]

Full article →

Glitnir’s winding-up committee brings charges against Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson

April 8, 2010

So, the winding-up committee of Glitnir bank has formally charged Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, the bank’s main owner before it collapsed, for abusing his position, along with Jón Ásgeir’s business partner Pálmi Haraldsson [he who sobbed to DV that  he couldn't leave his house without being harassed] and Lárus Welding, former CEO of the bank who [...]

Full article →

Of the EU, Special Prosecutor, and musical chairs in the media

February 24, 2010

Fairly meaty news day today. EUROPEAN UNION First, the EU has declared that Iceland is fit to join their club provided we tweak our policies and administrative structure a bit. If we do, they will kindly allow us to discuss potential accession. They have a few, um, criticisms about how things are done here. [I'm [...]

Full article →

The billion króna shuffle

January 28, 2010

Last night, RÚV reported that Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson [tycoon associated with Baugur Group, which once owned half the UK high street and more] had received a “gift or loan” amounting to ISK 1 billion from his pal Pálmi Haraldsson. The funds came through Pálmi’s company Fons and were funneled through Fons’s accounts no fewer than [...]

Full article →

← Previous Entries