Appeals court orders retrial in Kainuu barber shop trafficking case

Rovaniemi Court of Appeal has overturned a Kainuu District Court ruling in a case involving a barber shop in Kainuu, Yle reports. The case will return to the district court for a new hearing.

The district court dismissed all charges in February, including human trafficking, extortionate work discrimination, arranging illegal entry and assaults.

Prosecutors alleged that a barber shop entrepreneur had recruited workers from their former home country and forced them to work at the shop under threat of fines of up to 10,000 euros.

The appeals court did not rule on whether the defendants were guilty. It found that the district court proceedings had not been continuous because there was a break of more than 10 months.

The main hearing took place in January 2025 and was scheduled to continue in May, but it did not resume until December 2025.

According to the appeals court, the long delay threatened the impartial assessment of the evidence. It also weakened at least one complainant’s ability to use a lawyer familiar with the case. The court therefore ordered the case to be heard again by the district court.

District court found insufficient evidence

In its February ruling, the district court noted that one of the barbers alleged to have been a victim of forced labour had wanted to come to Finland and work for the entrepreneur.

The man had also taken a holiday in Turkey during his employment, and his movement and whereabouts had not been restricted in any way.

Evidence heard by the court also indicated that another alleged human trafficking victim had been free to move around, could have quit at any time and had been paid regularly. At his request, the man had also been given Saturdays off.