Finland Times

Director General of Customs Antti Hartikainen. File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The future of Antti Hartikainen, the Director General at Finnish Customs who is currently on leave of absence will be decided in early February, said Interior Minister Päivi Rässänen.

 

A Ministry of Finance working group which set up a commission to probe into Hartikainen’s conduct and leadership criticised the Customs chief for interfering in the hiring of his wife at the Finnish Customs.

According to the Commission, by virtue of his position as the Director General at Finnish Customs, he should have refrained from discussing issues related to his wife.

Räsänen together with the ministerial working group led by State Secretary Martti Hetemäki will first go through the commission of inquiry's findings and also hear from Hartikainen before the final decision is made.

Räsänen believes familiarisation with the commission's report will take time.

Mika Parkkonen, Director of Communications at Finnish Customs said Finnish Customs will not comment on the matter until Räsänen and Hetemäki have responded on the commission's report.