Former SOS Children’s Village director convicted of aggravated embezzlement

The former director of an SOS Children’s Village in Finland has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for embezzling nearly €100,000 from the charity, Yle reports.

A district court in Oulu ruled that the woman, who led the organisation’s operations in northern Finland, must serve one year and two months on probation. She was also ordered to forfeit €82,200—the amount prosecutors determined she had misappropriated—to the state as illicit gains.

The SOS Children’s Village Foundation estimates the total embezzled sum to be even higher, at almost €128,000. The alleged misconduct occurred between 2018 and 2020, with the director resigning in January 2020.

According to prosecutors and the foundation, the woman used charity funds for personal and family expenses, including pharmacy purchases, clothing, books, fitness services, travel, dining, gift cards, and vehicle repairs, rentals, and fuel. She also made thousands of euros in unjustified cash withdrawals.

The defendant denied wrongdoing, arguing all expenditures were work-related and known to her supervisors. Her defence claimed no concerns were raised about the spending during her employment.

SOS Children’s Village is an international non-profit providing foster care and family support services in Finland.