Former finance manager convicted of embezzling €75,000

A district court in South Karelia has convicted a former finance manager of aggravated embezzlement, finding the defendant had misappropriated nearly €75,000 from the company over multiple transactions between 2013 and 2022, Yle reports.

The defendant denied the charges, claiming all payments had been pre-approved by management. While the timing and amounts of the payments were undisputed, the court ruled there was insufficient evidence of prior approval, particularly as the company lacked documented bonus schemes or policies for compensating unused leave that could justify the sums.

Prosecutors had initially sought a conviction for embezzling at least €180,000, but more than half of the charges were dismissed. Allegations of unjustified salary increases and an improper company loan were not proven.

The court sentenced the former finance manager to eight months’ suspended imprisonment. The ruling is not final and may be appealed to a higher court.