Finnish couple charged with child abduction and severe deprivation of liberty to face trial remotely from police custody

The case regarding the detention of parents suspected of child abduction in Ulvila, Finland, will be deliberated in the Satakunta District Court in Pori on Friday afternoon. It is expected that the woman and man involved will attend the hearing remotely from police custody. The 36-year-old woman and 38-year-old man were arrested on Friday, July 5, in absentia, on suspicion of child abduction and severe deprivation of liberty, which are believed to have taken place in Ulvila, Satakunta on Monday, July 1.

On Wednesday, police announced that the adults suspected of these crimes and the children they allegedly abducted were located somewhere in Europe. This was possible due to international police cooperation. The suspected child abduction is reportedly linked to the couple’s opposition to the custody of their three teenage children. Several child protection reports have also been filed about the family.

The mother, who is a suspect in these crimes, is a preschool teacher who previously ran a daycare that was mysteriously closed. Authorities intervened in the daycare’s operations in the family’s former hometown. The father, also a suspect, had a brief stint a few years ago as a CEO of a large food company. According to his social media profiles, he has previously worked in the food industry and studied at university. He also ran a mail-order business specializing in mobile phone accessories.

Both the man and woman are also suspected of serious rape charges, which are being investigated by the Häme police.