Court dismisses rape charge against retired Brigadier General Mauri Koskela in Finland

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the rape charge against retired Brigadier General Mauri Koskela. Koskela initially appealed a sentence handed down last year by the South Ostrobothnia District Court, which sentenced him to one year and eleven months in prison for rape and firearm offenses. The Court of Appeal upheld the district court’s reasoning regarding the firearms charge, resulting in a modified sentence of four months of conditional imprisonment for illegal possession of firearms. However, the appeal court dismissed the rape charge altogether and also released Koskela from any compensation obligations to the victim.

The firearm offense involved the illegal possession of military weapons. According to the court ruling, Koskela possessed two illegal firearms and stored them along with a significant quantity of ammunition in a manner that posed a risk of falling into the wrong hands. As a result of the ruling, Koskela will not lose his military rank.

The prosecutor had sought a harsher penalty for the rape charge, including additional charges related to aggravated rape. The victim also called for a sentence for aggravated rape and the dismissal of Koskela’s appeal. The reasoning behind the dismissal of the rape charges remains confidential.

During the court proceedings, the victim described incidents of violence during sexual intercourse, stating that Koskela had choked her, leading to bruising, bleeding, pain, and suffering. Throughout the process, Koskela has consistently denied the allegations and the rape charge. There is still an option to seek leave to appeal from the Supreme Court, with applications due by November 5.