Finnish Supreme Court rules on Kittilä officials in Eilavaara case

The Finnish Supreme Court has issued a ruling concerning municipal officials in Kittilä and legal expert Pertti Eilavaara. Timo Kurula, the chairman of the municipal council and current mayor, was convicted of attempted fraud, breach of official duties, and abuse of office. Aki Maunula, the deputy chairman of the municipal council, was found guilty of attempted fraud and breach of official duties. Maunula is not currently a member of the municipal council. Both received suspended prison sentences, while charges against the deputy chair of the municipal council were dismissed.

The Eilavaara cases originate from legal advice requested from Pertti Eilavaara regarding the dismissal of former mayor Anna Mäkelä. These expert services were ordered on behalf of the municipality without the necessary procurement decision mandated by municipal purchasing regulations.

In a previous ruling, the Lapland District Court convicted Kurula and Maunula, along with the deputy chair of the municipal council, for attempted fraud and breach of official duties in the so-called Eilavaara 2 case in 2021. However, in 2022, the Court of Appeal dismissed all charges.

The Supreme Court only granted the prosecution the right to appeal in the cases of Kurula, Maunula, and the deputy chair of the municipal council, with a total of 28 individuals involved in the charges. The court had previously convicted Kurula for abuse of office in the Eilavaara 1 case, confirming a 60-day suspended prison sentence in 2023. Other officials involved received fines. More updates will follow.