Fishrot scandal: 1,000 Namibian workers seek victim status in Iceland
Over 1,000 Namibian fisheries workers have asked Icelandic prosecutors to recognise them as victims in the Fishrot corruption case, supported by Transparency International.
Source: Transparency International · August 6, 2026 at 2:54 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 6 AUGUST 2026 —
Over 1,000 Namibian fisheries workers have asked Icelandic prosecutors to recognise them as victims in the Fishrot corruption case, supported by Transparency International.
Market Impact
The move could set a precedent for foreign victims to join Icelandic criminal proceedings in corruption cases, the anti-graft group said. Samherji, one of Europe’s largest fisheries companies, is at the centre of the Fishrot scandal, accused of bribing officials in Angola and Namibia for fishing quotas between 2012 and 2019.
Icelandic prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Samherji in 2020. The company has denied wrongdoing.
The workers’ claims hinge on whether job losses caused by alleged corruption count as harm under Icelandic law. Thousands of Namibian fishermen and fisheries staff lost their jobs after the scandal. They allege the losses led to food and housing insecurity, debt and psychological stress.
“Samherji’s alleged corruption caused severe harm to workers and communities in Namibia,” Transparency International said. “By supporting these claims, we aim to ensure workers have a chance to seek remedies and formal acknowledgement of the harm they suffered.”
The case does not directly affect Malaysian markets, companies or policy.
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