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| Accused Icelandic tycoon faces row over influencing own media coverage | Accused Icelandic tycoon faces row over influencing own media coverage |
| (7 months later) | |
| Fallen Icelandic tycoon Jon Asgeir Johannesson, who once controlled a string of UK high-street retail chains and is standing trial for allegations that he exerted undue influence on an Icelandic bank , has been accused of attempting to influence media coverage of his affairs from Reykjavik's largest media group, 365. | Fallen Icelandic tycoon Jon Asgeir Johannesson, who once controlled a string of UK high-street retail chains and is standing trial for allegations that he exerted undue influence on an Icelandic bank , has been accused of attempting to influence media coverage of his affairs from Reykjavik's largest media group, 365. |
| The business editor for television station Channel 2, which is part of 365 – where Johannesson's wife is the controlling owner and chairman – posted an open letter on the company's website calling for the embattled tycoon to step back from his role as a 365 consultant until the current trial, and other investigations into his past activities, are over. | The business editor for television station Channel 2, which is part of 365 – where Johannesson's wife is the controlling owner and chairman – posted an open letter on the company's website calling for the embattled tycoon to step back from his role as a 365 consultant until the current trial, and other investigations into his past activities, are over. |
| "Jon Asgeir has a few times recently tried – in a tasteless manner in my opinion – to put pressure on journalists by complaining about true and legitimate stories concerning him … to the company's board and management," the letter said, though it insisted attempts to influence coverage had not been successful. | "Jon Asgeir has a few times recently tried – in a tasteless manner in my opinion – to put pressure on journalists by complaining about true and legitimate stories concerning him … to the company's board and management," the letter said, though it insisted attempts to influence coverage had not been successful. |
| The former boss of Baugur – the collapsed retail empire which once held major stakes in House of Fraser, Iceland Foods, Hamleys and other UK chains – admits complaining about some coverage. "I consider myself as having the same rights as everyone else when it comes to stories appearing in the paper and concerning me personally," he said. "This was a story making serious unfounded allegations against me. Despite that, no attempt was made to reach me to seek comments or to establish my side of the story." He said this was in breach of editorial rules. | The former boss of Baugur – the collapsed retail empire which once held major stakes in House of Fraser, Iceland Foods, Hamleys and other UK chains – admits complaining about some coverage. "I consider myself as having the same rights as everyone else when it comes to stories appearing in the paper and concerning me personally," he said. "This was a story making serious unfounded allegations against me. Despite that, no attempt was made to reach me to seek comments or to establish my side of the story." He said this was in breach of editorial rules. |
| Johannesson is on trial for offences relating to allegations that he improperly influenced Glitnir, the Icelandic bank which had financed much of Baugur's investments before the 2008 banking crash. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of encouraging top bankers at Glitnir to advance a loan of 6bn kronur (£29m) to companies with which he was linked in July 2008, three months before the crash. | Johannesson is on trial for offences relating to allegations that he improperly influenced Glitnir, the Icelandic bank which had financed much of Baugur's investments before the 2008 banking crash. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of encouraging top bankers at Glitnir to advance a loan of 6bn kronur (£29m) to companies with which he was linked in July 2008, three months before the crash. |
| In December, Iceland's largest-circulation newspaper, Frettabladid – also part of Johannesson's wife's 365 Media empire – featured detailed coverage of claims by the former Baugur boss that his current criminal prosecution is part of a campaign of "persecution" by the "jealous" Icelandic business and political establishment stretching back 10 years. | In December, Iceland's largest-circulation newspaper, Frettabladid – also part of Johannesson's wife's 365 Media empire – featured detailed coverage of claims by the former Baugur boss that his current criminal prosecution is part of a campaign of "persecution" by the "jealous" Icelandic business and political establishment stretching back 10 years. |
| "The perception in Iceland, both of the general public and of the media which is overtly hostile, is that I am, at least in part, responsible for the collapse of [Glitnir]." | "The perception in Iceland, both of the general public and of the media which is overtly hostile, is that I am, at least in part, responsible for the collapse of [Glitnir]." |
| Olafur Stephensen, the editor of Frettabladid, has also suggested that complaints had been made about 365 output that amounted to attempts – albeit unsuccessful – to exert editorial influence. Since then, the company has appointed a second editor to jointly oversee the paper alongside Stephensen. The 365 chief executive, Ari Edwald, said the appointment had been his decision and the paper had operated with two editors in the past, though not in the past four years. | Olafur Stephensen, the editor of Frettabladid, has also suggested that complaints had been made about 365 output that amounted to attempts – albeit unsuccessful – to exert editorial influence. Since then, the company has appointed a second editor to jointly oversee the paper alongside Stephensen. The 365 chief executive, Ari Edwald, said the appointment had been his decision and the paper had operated with two editors in the past, though not in the past four years. |
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