Investigation into sexual crimes against children in Finland nears completion

The Southwest Finland Police is nearing completion of an investigation into a series of sexual crimes against children. The lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Petri Lamppu, stated that the preliminary investigation will be finalized in the coming days, with the case expected to be forwarded to prosecutors for consideration soon.

In June, the police announced they were investigating a series of sexual offenses affecting over 200 minors across Finland. The victims were primarily girls aged 6 to 15 years old. A man in his thirties, residing in Pirkanmaa, is suspected of the crimes and has been in custody since April.

The suspect allegedly contacted victims through the Omegle video chat platform between 2022 and 2023, asking them to appear on video in minimal clothing and perform sexual acts. Communication may have continued on other social media platforms as well. While the police reported in June that there were still 177 unidentified victims, the investigation encompasses various criminal charges, including aggravated sexual assault against a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and child solicitation for sexual purposes.

The case is being handled by the Cyber Crimes Unit at the Turku main police station. The Southwest Finland Police plans to provide further information about the investigation’s completion in the near future.