Trial begins for Olli Sorainen in bribery case linked to berry sector in Helsinki

Today, a rare trial begins at the Helsinki District Court, where Olli Sorainen, a senior adviser from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, stands accused of aggravated bribery and breach of official duty. The prosecution alleges that Sorainen engaged in serious bribery from 2019 to 2022 and violated his duties from 2018 to 2022. According to the prosecutor, Sorainen requested and accepted benefits from a berry sector operator and acted in a manner favoring that operator in related matters. Sorainen has denied committing any crimes. He was suspended from his position in November 2022 due to the allegations and was briefly imprisoned during the initial stages of the investigation.

This bribery case is linked to human trafficking charges in the berry sector against Jukka Kristo, the former CEO of Polarica Marjanhankinta oy. Kristo faces further charges in a separate trial at the Lapland District Court, where he is being prosecuted for 77 counts of aggravated human trafficking, with a minimum five-year prison sentence sought. These charges involve the treatment of Thai berry pickers on a berry farm, which Kristo has also denied.

In the trial starting Monday in Helsinki, the current CEO of Polarica, Mari Onkamo, is charged with aiding and abetting aggravated bribery. Onkamo stated in a phone interview with Yle that she denies the allegations. According to the police, substantial benefits and conveniences were obtained through these bribes in processes related to berry picking enterprises. The trial is scheduled to last for five days.