Prosecutor seeks penalty for robbery case involving stolen jacket in Kuopio

The handling of the street robbery case in Kuopio continued at the North Savo District Court on Tuesday. The court addressed an incident from November 2022, where a 15-year-old boy had a valuable and rare winter jacket stolen from him on the street. The prosecutor is seeking a penalty for a boy, who was 17 at the time of the crime, born in Finland.

According to the prosecutor, the 15-year-old was walking home during the early hours of a Saturday when he encountered a person dressed in dark clothing, wearing sunglasses and a balaclava. This individual stopped him and demanded his jacket. When the boy hesitated, the robber moved closer and reached into his clothing, prompting the boy to fear that he would draw a weapon. He handed over the jacket, after which the robber said threateningly, “If you call the police, you know what will happen.”

The shocked boy returned home and woke his sleeping mother, who immediately called the police. The boy was interviewed shortly afterward. The mother also began investigating through Snapchat messages, discovering a post where the accused was asking about a new jacket half an hour after the robbery.

The stolen Trapstar jacket was a birthday gift for the boy, valued at approximately €480. He and his mother suggested a reward of €200 for its return. A few days later, a witness contacted them, claiming he could retrieve the jacket for money. This was later settled over the phone, and the mother recorded the conversation.

On the court’s hearing day, the witness claimed that the accused had confessed to him, but this testimony changed significantly during the trial. The prosecutor noted discrepancies in the statement and requested a brief recess to contact law enforcement regarding potential false testimony in court.

The accused denies being the individual described during the robbery, maintaining that the incident does not constitute robbery but theft at best. Sentencing in this ongoing case is set for October 23 at noon.