Prosecutor drops charges against popular restaurant over exploitation allegations

The prosecutor’s office has decided not to press charges against the owners of a well-known ethnic restaurant chain in Turku, who were suspected of gross exploitation of foreign employees, citing insufficient evidence.

Finnish public broadcaster Yle first reported the allegations on 21 March 2026, after four foreign workers came forward with claims of mistreatment. However, the prosecutor had already dismissed the case two days earlier, on 19 March, following a preliminary investigation.

During the investigation, two of the four workers provided detailed and credible accounts of the alleged misconduct, while the other two declined to elaborate after filing their initial reports. The accused owners also gave consistent statements without contradictions or exaggerations, according to the prosecutor.

The case centered on conflicting claims, including allegations that two employees had been forced to return part of their wages in cash to the employer. While two workers and one witness supported this claim, two others denied observing such practices. Bank records did not corroborate the allegations.

Some employees also suspected they had not received all entitled allowances, but payroll documents showed otherwise, the prosecutor noted. Two workers further claimed unpaid overtime but could not provide evidence of their actual working hours.

Ultimately, the prosecutor concluded that the evidence was insufficient to prove that the owners had exploited the workers’ financial or emotional dependence. The case was dismissed due to a lack of probable cause.

The restaurant chain has not been publicly named in connection with the investigation.