Two of the three letters presented by convicted child molester Hjalti Sigurjón Hauksson in support of his application for pardon and full restoration of honor were acquired under false pretenses. The only genuine letter vouching for his good character presented by Hjalti was written by Benedikt Sveinsson, the father of Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.
Applications for a pardon must be accompanied by at least two recommendation letters. Hjalti Sigurjón, who was sentenced in 2004 for having abuse his adopted daughter in the most horrifying manner for 12 years, handed in three letters. Two were from former employers, the managers of bus companies Hjalti had worked for. The third letter was written by Benedikt Sveinsson, who is the owner of one of the two companies.
Now both of his former employers have come out saying they had never recommended that Hjalti be granted pardon: They had been under the impression that Hjalti was applying for jobs, and that they were writing letters to prospective employers. Hjalti appears to have misled the two men into signing the letters.
The fact that the writers of the letters had never intended to recommend Hjalti be pardoned was not discovered by the Ministry of the Interior which does not vet these letters, it has been revealed.
Two of the three letters presented by convicted child molester Hjalti Sigurjón Hauksson in support of his application for pardon and full restoration of honor were acquired under false pretenses. The only genuine letter vouching for his good character presented by Hjalti was written by Benedikt Sveinsson, the father of Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.
Applications for a pardon must be accompanied by at least two recommendation letters. Hjalti Sigurjón, who was sentenced in 2004 for having abuse his adopted daughter in the most horrifying manner for 12 years, handed in three letters. Two were from former employers, the managers of bus companies Hjalti had worked for. The third letter was written by Benedikt Sveinsson, who is the owner of one of the two companies.
Now both of his former employers have come out saying they had never recommended that Hjalti be granted pardon: They had been under the impression that Hjalti was applying for jobs, and that they were writing letters to prospective employers. Hjalti appears to have misled the two men into signing the letters.
The fact that the writers of the letters had never intended to recommend Hjalti be pardoned was not discovered by the Ministry of the Interior which does not vet these letters, it has been revealed.
