Helsinki District Court hears police officer’s case against Helsingin Sanomat over alleged honor violation

Today, the Helsinki District Court is hearing a police officer’s case, who claims that his honor and private life were violated by a 2021 article in Helsingin Sanomat. The article disclosed that the officer had commenced a relationship with a young man whom he had previously investigated for a sexual offense. The officer has acknowledged the relationship and has learned that the young man was a victim in the case he was handling. He contends that the article contained false information about him and is seeking €30,000 in damages from the defendants.

The prosecutor is seeking a suspended prison sentence for the journalist behind the article and the editor-in-chief Antero Mukka. Additionally, penalties in the form of fines are being requested for the previous editor Kaius Niemi. All parties involved have denied the charges against them.