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Home NATIONALAarnio played role in purchase of equipment: Ex police boss
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Tue, 14 Apr, 2015 12:09:07 AM
FTimes-STT Report, April 14

Former chief of Helsinki police department Jukka Riikonen admitted Jari Aarnio, the detained former Helsinki drug unit police chief played a role in the purchase of surveillance equipment from Trevoc.

Riikonen appeared before the District Court of Helsinki on Monday to give his testimony on the suspicions surrounding former head of Helsinki police drug unit boss’s role in the surveillance company and the acquisition of equipment for the Helsinki police.

"If someone is the head of a unit, then yes someone's role entails what acquisitions should be made in that unit," said Riikonen during his testimony.

Riikonen said without doubt through discussions with Aarnio the need to upgrade hardware were raised.

According to his knowledge, the need for the upgrade came “in accordance with normal order of march" through the then deputy chief of police Jari Liukku.

The deputy chief of police was also responsible for ensuring that the procurement was duly made.

Riikonen said he relayed information about the need of the necessity of the devices to the police leadership leading to the authorisation of the procurement. In his view, there were no options other than Trevoc.

Riikonen found the purchase of the equipment to be vital.                                             

"A mere graph paper and paper cannot today handle police work," said Riikonen.

According to Riikonen, if Aarnio had a certain role in Trevoc, disqualification should be examined very carefully before purchasing the equipment.

Prior to his retirement in February in 2014, Riikonen told STT the Helsinki police drug unit had been properly controlled. He, however, at that time that watertight monitoring is very tight to build.

Aarnio has been charged with aggravated embezzlement, breach of office charges, prostitution related cases and number of other allegations. He is suspected of leaking police covert operations.

Nineteen charges were brought against Aarnio related to his alleged involvement with surveillance company Trevoc’s operations as well as the barrel ring suspicions which entails trafficking of hashish.

The Trevoc case is currently on-going at the District Court of Helsinki. 

Legal proceedings concerning the alleged drug suspicions will begin in May. Aarnio has been in detention since November 2013 and has denied all the allegations.

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