sakamál

Sakamál is a term in Icelandic law that refers to a criminal case or criminal matter brought before the courts. The word combines roots meaning to accuse and a matter or case, signaling a process initiated by charges against a person following investigation by police or other authorities. Sakamál is distinguished from civil or administrative proceedings, which deal with different legal questions.

A sakamál typically proceeds through the institutions of criminal procedure: a preliminary investigation, the filing of an indictment by the public prosecutor, and a trial before a court (usually a district court, with possible appeals to the Supreme Court). During the trial, the prosecution bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, while the defendant retains rights including legal representation and the opportunity to present evidence. If a defendant is found guilty, penalties may include imprisonment, fines, or other sanctions as prescribed by statute; if acquitted, the case is dismissed.

In legal discourse, sakamál appears in court documents and media reporting as shorthand for criminal proceedings against an individual or organization. The term is standard in Icelandic, with cognate forms in related Nordic languages, though precise usage can vary by jurisdiction. See also: criminal case, Icelandic law, public prosecutor, court, criminal procedure.