Former Minister of Social Affairs Árni Páll Árnason (pictured) and Minister of Finance Steingrímur J. Sigfússon decided to pay ISK 30 million (USD 267,000, EUR 194,000) in compensation to the couple who ran the treatment home Árbót in Adaldalur, north Iceland, in spite of objections from the Government Agency of Child Protection.
In sources available to Fréttabladid daily, it says that the agency terminated a service agreement with Ármót almost one year ago after a case of sexual abuse at the home was uncovered. The termination was based on a breach of conditions, visir.is reports.
According to the agency’s documents, the state attorney was not asked to investigate the payment obligation.
Mbl.is reports that the decision to pay the couple compensation was made on October 13 after Gudbjartur Hannesson had taken over the Ministry of Social Affairs.
ISK 12 million have already been paid from the agency’s funds and it is assumed that the remaining amount will be paid later as stated in the additional budget bill for 2011.
