Finland Times

 

File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence will examine possible incidental occupations of its employees to avoid any potential problem of bias in the fighter jet procurement to replace the Hornet jets.

 

According to the Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat, the defence administration does not have an overall picture of side occupations, even though the employees are obliged to declare the existence of such activities to their employer.

 

According to an assessment of the defence ministry, incidental occupations are less on the side of the ministry but possibly more on the side of the Defence Forces.

 

The defence administration decided to examine defence personnel’s incidental occupations after the Finnish language newspaper Aamulehti reported that Catharina Candolini who is on the Defence Forces’ payroll is involved in a consulting company used by the defence equipment company Saab.

 

Saab is involved in the bidding with its Gripen fighter. Candolini has a permit from the Defence Forces to be involved in incidental occupation at the private company.

 

The fighter jets procurement, the so called HX-project, will become the most expensive arms trade in the Finnish history, since the purchasing cost may reach 10 billion euros.