Icelandic student sued after ‘faking’ Fishrot apology

The corruption-accused Icelandic fishing company Samherji is suing a student for issuing Namibians a fake public apology for the Fishrot scandal in the name of art.

The student allegedly forged the company’s website and called it “culture jamming”, which involves impersonating brands to raise awareness of corporate misconduct.

Oddur Friðriksson (41), who is a student at the University of Bergen, is now being sued in the High Court in London, in the United Kindgdom.

The student yesterday told The Namibian his artwork, titled ‘We’re Sorry’, was to show sympathy for and solidarity with Namibians affected by the Fishrot fishing quotas fraud, corruption and racketeering case.

“Years have passed, and no one has been brought to justice. I wanted to communicate with Namibians that we stand with you and we will seek justice,” he said.

In his 2023 artwork, Friðriksson copied Samherji’s corporate identity and launched a website, titled samherji.co.uk.

The site contained the following statement: “Samherji apologises, pledges restitution and cooperation with authorities.”

Friðriksson said his artwork was part of his university coursework, depicting the fishing company’s alleged wrongdoing.

“‘We’re Sorry’ is a conceptual and performative piece that places an apology at the forefront. This apology is, in my view, the only path to a solution in this situation,” he said.

“Through this artwork, I aim to provide a platform for Icelanders and others to express their support for Namibia’s plea for justice,” he said.

Friðriksson, who says he now needs £10 000 (about N$230 000) to defend himself in court, called on Namibians to support his case by sharing the story.

“I am not seeking financial support from Namibians. If Namibians want to support this case, they must share the story and move forward. Namibians should get justice and hopefully, in the end, we will get the true apology,” he said.

The Guardian reports that Samherji has accused Friðriksson of trademark infringement and malicious falsehood.

The company is now seeking damages.

Samherji’s case against Friðriksson will be heard at the High Court in London on 25 September.

Lawyers representing Samherji have insisted they are not complaining about the allegations, but rather “the way the allegations are made”, adding Friðriksson’s ‘culture jamming’ did not qualify as parody.