Finland Times

File picture : MC-Hells Angels member at the court room on June 12. Photo Lehtikuva.

Fourteen out of 25 accused of Hells Angels gang were sentenced to imprisonment for different terms up to two year while the rest 11, who were accused of only of their involvement in the gang were acquitted the charges.

 

The Espoo District Court on Wednesday convicted the 14 members of the gang, who were  accused  of violence, drugs and illegal arms.

 

The court, however,  observed that  none of the accused could be convicted for his or her membership with  a criminal organization and acquitted 11 persons of the charges who were accused of  their involvement in the gang.

 

File picture : MC-Hells Angels member at the court room on June 12. Photo Lehtikuva.

Although the prosecutor had sought tougher punishment against all the 25 members, the court said that in Finland  it could not be considered that an organisation set up to carry out serious crimes.

 

The 14 members were sent to imprisonment to different terms with maximum two years imprisonment as allegations assault, drugs and arms crimes brought against them were proved beyond doubt.

 

Earlier, on June 11, the members of Hells Angels, a motorcycle group branded in some parts of America and Europe as criminal gang, when produced before Espoo District Court made hardly any comment about the materials seized from their dens.

 

The detained members of a motorcycle gang accused of committing crimes have disclosed nothing to the police during lengthy interrogations thanks to the group’s strict rule not to disclose its activities, police said.

 

They went on saying “no comment” whenever the police asked about their activities, police said.

 

Police captured  25 suspected members of the gang allegedly involved in crimes in late February this year from different parts of Espoo, Vantaa and Lappeenranta areas.

 

The lawmen drawn from police and Central Bureau of Investigation had been questioning the gang members about their activities after they seized drugs and weapons from their possessions.

 

Police said that the drive against the Hells Angels, affiliated group Bad Machine 81, conducted based on an investigation launched in 2011.

 

The gang members are allegedly involved in crimes related to property and attempt to murder, aggravated assault, drug offenses, firearms and weapon offenses, according to police department. 

 

File picture : MC-Hells Angels member at the court room on June 12. Photo Lehtikuva.

Police believe that the gang members are very obliged to their group and did not disclose anything during the interrogation as it is known that its members are subjected to organisational punishment even expulsion from the gang, if they break its rule secrecy.

 

One member of the criminal gang was kicked out earlier as he talked much about the organisation to police during interrogation.

 

Police said that the Hells Angels dens are guarded strictly, particularly in Espoo Nöykkiö. The law enforcers recovered illegal shotguns, ammunitions and Knifes. The dens are equipped with surveillance camera and high-powered jammers to obstruct electronic communications in the adjoining areas.

 

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was established in southern California 65 years ago and now active in different parts of Europe.