Finnish prosecutors, state prosecutor Jukka Rappe and district prosecutor Timo Kokkomäki have filed an appeal against dismissal of charges in the bribery case connected to sale of armoured vehicles to the Republic of Slovenia by Finnish state-owned defence industry group Patria.
The District Court of Kanta-Häme 30.1.2014 dismissed charges for aggravated bribery against former CEOs of Patria Oyj, the parent company of the group, and its affiliate Patria Vehicles Oy as well as three other employees of the group. Consequently, the prosecutors' claim for corporate fine was also dismissed.
In their letter of appeal, the prosecutors find fault with the appraisal of the evidence carried out by the District Court. They also critisize the court's decision to separate the Slovenia case from an intertwined bribery case concerning Patria's sales of armoured vehicles to the Republic of Croatia.
In the Court of Appeal the prosecutors demand punishments for both of the CEOs and two other defendants as well as corporate fine for Patria Vehicles Oy, renamed Patria Land Services Oy. The acquittal of one of the defendants was accepted by the prosecutors.
The Court of Appeal of Turku will hear the Slovenia case in due time.
The Office of the Prosecutor General will inform the media about the forthcoming progress of the case.
A public version of the prosecutors' letter of appeal (in Finnish language) is available at the registry of the Office of the Prosecutor General ([email protected], tel. +358 29 562 0810).
