GoSaimaa to maintain marketing agreement with Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat amid ongoing court case against CEO in South Karelia

According to a report by Yle, the South Karelia municipalities and tourism company GoSaimaa will not terminate their marketing agreement with the Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat restaurant group until the outcome of its CEO, Pan Yilei’s, court case is determined. Juha Nalli, the chairman of GoSaimaa, stated that it is not their role to act as a judicial body in this matter, and they will fulfill their contractual obligations.

Pan Yilei faces charges of human trafficking at the South Karelia District Court, where a hearing has yet to be scheduled, but is currently anticipated for October. Yle had previously reported in May that Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat faced issues concerning employee working hours and salary payments, with the regional government authority conducting multiple inspections, the latest in June which revealed deficiencies such as the visibility of work schedules.

Should the court deliver a guilty verdict against Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat, Nalli conveyed that the GoSaimaa board would reconsider the continuation of their agreement with the restaurant group. GoSaimaa promotes a commitment to responsibility on its website, emphasizing respect for human rights and equality. Nalli suggested that their current collaboration with Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat does not conflict with these principles, although a conviction could pose a significant contradiction.

Furthermore, Sally Leskinen, director of the South Karelia well-being district, remarked that they will not utilize Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat services due to the serious allegations against the company. The city of Lappeenranta has also announced its intention not to enter a new catering contract with Kolme Kiveä Ravintolat, aligning with the concerns raised from the ongoing legal issues surrounding the restaurant group.