The Court of Appeal has dismissed journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson’s case against North Iceland Police, RÚV reports. The court’s ruling says there is nothing in the case that suggests that police did not follow correct procedure in the investigation against Aðalsteinn. The Northeast Iceland District Court had ruled in Aðalsteinn’s favour, but the journalist had requested to appeal the case.
The Court of Appeal ruling states that the media play an important role in a democratic society for free and informed debate. It stresses that care must be taken to avoid imposing restrictions on their work that would impair their ability to discuss issues. However, this does not guarantee journalists protection against a police investigation into alleged violations of criminal law.
Aðalsteinn was one of four journalists who received the legal status of defendant in connection with a police investigation into a violation of privacy. He decided to challenge the legality of the police’s actions and appealed to the Northeast Iceland District Court. While it was originally believed the case concerned the journalists’ coverage of a scandal connected to seafood company Samherji, the Chief of Police later announced that it concerned other, sensitive data found on a Samherji employee’s phone.
The journalists’ source has not been confirmed, nor whether they accessed the employee’s phone. Neither was there any mention of the sensitive data in question in any of the journalists’ reporting on the scandal.
The ruling means that the police may call the four journalists in for questioning in relation to their investigation.
