Finland Times

 

File picture of special unit police Karhu group. Photo Lehtikuva.

A sergeant at the Helsinki special unit police Karhu group is suspected of several crimes, said the Eastern Uusimaa prosecutor’s office and the police department. 

 

He is suspected of, among other things, preparing unlawful acquisitions and receiving unlawful financial benefits amounting to more than 150,000 euros.

 

A preliminary investigation into the sergeant’s activities and the management of a company implicated in the crimes is almost done. On the basis of the findings of the pre-trial investigation, the sergeant is suspected of taking bribe, misusing official position, embezzlement, accounting fraud, firearms offence as well as breach of official duty.

 

The company’s management is suspected of, among other things, bribery, two counts of tax fraud as well as an aggravated firearms offence. A search of the company’s premises unearthed more than a dozen unauthorised weapons including automatic ones.

 

According to the prosecution, there are also three other suspects who are not police personnel.

 

The Helsinki police communications director, Chief Inspector Juha Hakola said the sergeant suspected of the crimes was suspended last year.

 

The sergeant is also suspected of unlawful acquisitions from 2006 to 2012. The value of the acquisitions he made during that period was in excess of 400,000 euros. In addition, the department had acquired through the company two vehicles worth more than 300,000 euros.

 

The sergeant is also suspected of unlawful conservation and possession of arms and ammunition. He is also suspected of stealing more than 15,000 euros from one association and an affiliated company.

 

The bribery criminal investigation began in February last year. During the investigation, the sergeant and the company management were detained for less than a month.