Police send Lappeenranta swastika flag case to prosecutors

Police have completed a preliminary investigation into a man who raised a swastika flag at his detached house in Lappeenranta in May, Yle reports. The case will now proceed to prosecutors for consideration of charges.

The Southeast Finland Police confiscated the flag after it was displayed on May 12. The Eastern Finland prosecution district will next assess the case.

A criminal report was filed under the heading of agitation against an ethnic group. The confiscated flag remains in police custody, while the suspect has denied committing a crime during questioning.

Private individuals also asked police to investigate the matter. Police said, however, that the offence is intended to protect groups of people rather than individuals. As a result, there are no injured parties in the case, and the people who requested the investigation were not questioned as injured parties.