Junior officer fined for harassing female recruits

A 19-year-old male junior noncommissioned officer has been fined for harassing female conscripts at a Finnish military garrison, Yle reports.

The Satakunta District Court found that he repeatedly entered the women’s barracks room without a proper service-related reason. The women living there found his conduct disturbing and, at least in part, distressing.

The court said his clear intention had been to sexually harass the recruits, particularly one female recruit whom he had also approached and treated inappropriately in his capacity as a soldier.

The incidents took place at the Pori Brigade in Niinisalo in January. The court ordered the man to pay 30 day-fines, amounting to more than 1,100 euros based on his income.

The ruling is not final and can be appealed.