State reclaims nearly half a million euros from Oulu association that aided prisoners

The Finnish state is reclaiming €455,000 in grants from KRIS-Oulu ry, an association that supported people with criminal records, after a Social and Health Care Contributions Centre (Stea) audit found misuse of public funds.

The audit, conducted in 2025, revealed that KRIS-Oulu ry had paid wages in cash, failed to remit nearly €20,000 in mandatory pension insurance contributions and misused a subsidy intended for hiring young or hard-to-employ individuals. The association also transferred some salaries to its former executive director’s personal bank account, citing lost online banking credentials.

Stea’s report states that cash payments were likely intended to avoid taxes and debt enforcement. The audit further found that KRIS-Oulu ry had employed a board member from another regional KRIS association who did not meet the eligibility criteria for the subsidy.

The association’s former executive director, Jaana Juntunen, denied any wrongdoing and described the scrutiny as hate speech and harassment driven by jealousy. She stated that the association had operated in compliance with laws and regulations.

KRIS-Oulu ry has since been declared bankrupt, and the state is unlikely to recover the funds. A criminal complaint has been filed with the Oulu police, and the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) has also reclaimed funds it had granted to the association.

The association’s former board chair, speaking anonymously due to a criminal background, claimed the board had never met and that he only learned of the association’s financial troubles from media reports. He acknowledged a history of serious offenses, including two attempted murders.

KRIS-Oulu ry operated from 2013 to 2025 as part of the KRIS network, which supports the reintegration of prisoners into society. The network consists of six regional associations and a central organisation in Finland.