Investigation into sexual misconduct case at Hamina congregation’s confirmation camp in Finland

An investigation into a case involving an adult man who served as a leader at the confirmation camp of the Hamina congregation has now moved to the prosecution phase, according to Investigator Lasse Hakala. The charge is categorized as sexual misconduct against a minor, Hakala reports.

The investigative materials were forwarded to the Eastern Finland Prosecutor’s Office yesterday. The alleged incident occurred at the church’s confirmation camp in early summer. The police have yet to disclose whether the alleged victim is one individual or multiple young people.

The accused individual was removed from the camp, which proceeded to completion after the incident was reported. Hamina’s parish priest, Anna Kinnunen, informed Yle in July that the congregation was unaware of the accused man’s age until the police investigation brought it to light.

Typically, “isosen,” or camp leaders, are youth who attended the confirmation camp the previous summer and are usually one or two years older than the confirmation students they are overseeing.