Finland Times

The person is suspected of taking bribes of about one million euros from several business and contractual partners.

“The conditions are such that we have reason to suspect bribery,” said lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Veli Matti Räsänen.

The suspected crimes took place between 2006 and 2013. The unnamed person who occupied a senior position at HOK-Elanto is suspected of taking bribes and aggravated bribery in the course of conducting business.

The suspected briberies, according to Räsänen, are connected to about a dozen companies or entities. There are, however, more individuals suspected in the crimes.

Räsänen did not wish to reveal the list of suspected companies at this stage of the case.

Finnish commercial broadcaster MTV said last year that at least one of the suspects would be a senior figure at the construction company Skanska.

HOK-Elanto Managing Director Matti Niemi emphasised that no person currently holding a leadership position at the cooperative or any of its current employees are suspected of the crimes.

“HOK-Elanto is a victim, or a potential victim at least. Right now, it is too early to say, if the business has suffered any damage,” said Niemi.

“The suspected person no longer works here, but his departure was not related to bribery suspicions,” said the HOK-Elanto MD.

Skanska announced in a statement on Thursday that the company has assisted the police in the investigation.

All suspects have offered during interrogations conflicting information about the perpetrators of the offences.

The main suspect did not respond when the Finnish news agency STT tried to contact him on Thursday.

According to Detective Chief Inspector Räsänen, it’s not substantial to the criminal investigation whether or not HOK-Elanto benefited from any of the suspected briberies.