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Home NATIONALEmbassy officials availed undue tax benefits
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Fri, 19 Aug, 2016 12:02:09 AM
Finnish mission in Stockholm
FTimes - STT Report, Aug 19
 
Finnish embassy to Sweden. File Photo Lehtikuva.
Officials at the Finnish embassy to Sweden are reported to have taken undue advantage of tax-free benefits using diplomatic status.
 
The officials at least purchased tax-free alcohol and tobacco also for some employees who are not entitled to such benefits.
 
The forwarding of tax-free products, according to STT, had continued for many years up until last year.
 
The foreign ministry became aware of the practice in Stockholm when Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen informed the ministry about the practice, State Secretary Peter Stenlund and Under-Secretary of State Pirkko Hämäläinen told the news agency STT.
 
According to Hämäläinen, Viinanen revealed about the matter after stopping the practice.
 
Viinanen said the practice ceased at the turn of 2015.
 
“I did not want to participate in that any more, since it is contrary to the legislation of the status,” said Viinanen.
 
According to State Secretary Stenlund, the foreign ministry did not intervene in the matter, since it was the embassy’s internal affair. 
 
The ministry is also investigated whether such practice was evident in other Finnish mission abroad.
 
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