Finnish veteran MP to face bribery charges

[Tiriol]

Finnish veteran MP and politician Ilkka Kanerva to face bribery charges and several Finnish businessmen are to face charges of giving bribes. Report by YLE News.

Kanerva to Face Bribery Charges
published today 11:38 AM, updated today 11:49 AM

A veteran MP for the conservative National Coalition party, Ilkka Kanerva, is to go to court to answer charges for bribery. Kanerva is accused of accepting bribes. Businessmen Tapani Yli-Saunamäki, Arto Merisalo, Kyösti Kakkonen and Toivo Sukari are accused of giving bribes to the parliamentarian

The accusations are related to Kanerva's birthday celebrations three years ago. The four businessmen are believed to have funded the occasion. A police investigation was launched to find out whether this affected Kanerva's activities as the Chairman of the Managing Board of the Regional Council for South West Finland.

According to Deputy State Prosecutor Jorma Kalske, Kanerva is suspected of receiving over 50,000 euros worth of benefits from companies planning large shopping centres in the area.

Both Kanerva and the businessmen in question deny any wrongdoing. If guilty, the men could receive sentences of up to four years in jail.

YLE

The amount is not mind-boggling, at least when compared to international politics or US politics, but it's a pretty hefty sum by Finnish standards and I don't recall any politician of Kanerva's fame ever facing any bribery charges (most likely because every politician active during the Cold War and until the end of the Soviet Union would have to face charges, so much money was pumped into Finnish politics by the Soviets and the CIA). This is a breath of fresh air and coupled with the fact that our former Prime Minister is also under investigation and may face trial before the Parliament should remind the politicians that they are not above the law.