Bibani enters Left Alliance chairmanship race despite past financial conviction

Gashaw Bibani, 37, who has entered the race for the chairmanship of the Left Alliance, has a conviction for serious financial crimes. In August 2018, the District Court of Western Uusimaa sentenced Bibani to a seven-month suspended prison sentence for severe debtor dishonesty and accounting offenses that occurred in Espoo between 2012 and 2013.

Bibani served as the CEO and board member of a cleaning services company, which was declared bankrupt in the summer of 2013 due to lack of assets, with debts of approximately €42,700. According to the court ruling, Bibani transferred a total of €47,000 from the company’s bank account to himself or close associates through automated withdrawals, cash withdrawals, bank transfers, and by using the company’s debit card for personal expenses. The company encountered payment difficulties in 2012, and the court found that Bibani’s actions significantly worsened its insolvency.

Bibani argued that the amounts taken were reasonable compensation for work done on behalf of the company, claiming he had not received any other remuneration. The court also noted that Bibani neglected the company’s bookkeeping by failing to provide receipts to the accountant despite reminders.

While the court acknowledged that the benefit Bibani sought was substantial and the crime was of a severe nature, it concluded that there was no indication of a particularly premeditated financial crime. The ruling emphasized that Bibani’s actions reflected negligence rather than deliberate criminal intent. Bibani sought permission to appeal from both the appellate court and the Supreme Court, but it was denied, leaving the district court ruling final.

Currently, Bibani is a member of the Vantaa and Kerava welfare area council and serves as an alternate city councilor and a member of the education and learning board in Vantaa. He also holds a position as deputy chair of the Leftist Women’s group. The leading candidate for the Left Alliance chairmanship is parliamentary representative Minja Koskela, with another candidate being Laura Meriluoto.