More than 1,000 former Namibian fisheries workers have formally asked Icelandic prosecutors to recognise them as victims in the criminal case tied to the Fishrot corruption scandal that centres on Icelandic fishing firm Samherji.
Supported by Transparency International, the global anti-corruption watchdog, the workers submitted claims to prosecutors in Iceland seeking official victim status. The move — backed by the organisation’s legal and advocacy resources — aims to shape how courts in Iceland treat those harmed by corruption and could influence wider practice on recognizing and including victims from abroad in criminal proceedings involving Icelandic companies.
In their filings, the workers say the alleged corruption stripped them of employment and triggered prolonged financial hardship, food and housing insecurity, mounting debt and psychological distress. Prosecutors’ acceptance of the claims would potentially establish a precedent allowing foreign victims of alleged corruption to take part in Icelandic criminal cases and pursue formal recognition and compensation for the harms they endured.
