Rovaniemi court dismisses appeals of Uros Oy executives amid subsidy fraud trial

The Rovaniemi Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals of two former executives of Uros Oy, which temporarily delayed the trial concerning a major subsidy fraud case. The dispute revolved around evidence related to the case. The court made its decision today, allowing the Oulu District Court to commence proceedings against Uros Oy founders Tommi Uhari and Jyrki Hallikainen on serious subsidy fraud charges, unless the pair seeks permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The trial was originally set to begin last April but was postponed after Uhari and Hallikainen requested additional investigation by the prosecutor. They argued that the police investigation had deficiencies and that the prosecutor needed to clarify discussions within Business Finland concerning Uros Oy during the time of the alleged offenses. The district court denied their request, prompting the duo to appeal to the higher court. The start of the trial was put on hold until the appeal court addressed the matter.

According to the recent ruling from the court of appeal, the prosecutor is not required to conduct additional investigations as demanded by Uhari and Hallikainen, nor to obtain the internal messages from Business Finland that the defendants had requested for the trial. Hallikainen and Uhari are accused of committing subsidy fraud amounting to millions of euros, allegedly seeking benefits of over six million euros through grants and funding from Business Finland. Both men deny the charges. The prosecutor is seeking a prison sentence for them for serious subsidy fraud.