Icelandic citizen Kristinn Sigurjónsson was arrested on the US border on his way to Canada accused of having worked illegally in the US. He spent 15 days in prison, where he said he suffered poor treatment, until he confessed and was deported.
Sigurjónsson told 24 Stundir that he had only helped out a couple he knew on their farm because his friend had heart problems and the past year had proven difficult for him and his wife. Sigurjónsson said he had not been given any pay for his work.
He was arrested on the border to Canada and had to spend 15 days in prison before he was taken before a judge. “The treatment I received can almost be called torture,” Sigurjónsson said.
Sigurjónsson said that during the 15 days of imprisonment he was hardly allowed to make any phone calls. The bed he slept in caused him pain but he was not given any painkillers. He said a policeman had hit him when he asked for an interpreter.
Sigurjónsson also complained about not having received anything to make him cope with his nicotine addiction. “I could possibly have understood this treatment if I had been accused for something like murder or rape.”
Sigurjónsson said he had only confessed to having worked illegally in the US to be released from prison. He was released on the condition that he left the country. “I would have confessed to the murder of Kennedy to be released.”
Click here to read about another Icelander who complained about the treatment she received by US authorities.
