Four staff suspected of abusing disabled residents at Kainuu care unit

Four employees at a Kainuu social services housing unit are now under investigation for alleged abuse of disabled residents, Oulu police confirmed Friday.

The suspects, all staff at the Rajamäentie facility operated by the Kainuu Wellbeing Services County, face preliminary charges of coercion, assault, dereliction of duty, and defamation, according to lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Kimmo Tuulenkari. Coercion was added as a charge during the ongoing probe.

Police allege the offenses occurred between early 2025 and March 2026, though the exact timeline remains under investigation. Tuulenkari stated there is no current evidence of systematic or long-term abuse, describing the incidents as “individual cases” while noting details may emerge as the inquiry progresses.

Authorities have begun interviewing potential victims and witnesses to determine their legal status in the case. Some witnesses have already been questioned, and the investigation continues to reconstruct the events.

Neither police nor the wellbeing services county have disclosed specific details of the alleged misconduct.