Two former employees of Hope charity convicted of embezzling gift cards for low-income families

A Helsinki district court has convicted two former employees of the Finnish charity Hope of embezzling €30,000 worth of gift cards intended for low-income families, Yle reports. Both received suspended prison sentences in the ruling issued Thursday morning.

The prosecution had demanded a seven-month suspended sentence for one defendant on charges of aggravated embezzlement and a four-month suspended sentence for the other. Both women, whose names were not disclosed, admitted in court to misusing gift cards meant for families in need between January 2021 and May 2023.

According to the charges, one defendant used Wolt food delivery gift vouchers worth approximately €10,000, while the other misappropriated around €18,000. Hope’s executive director, Eveliina Hostila, testified that the defendants had falsified recipient lists to cover up the theft.

The charity, which provides social and material support to vulnerable groups, discovered the discrepancies during an internal review. The court’s decision follows a trial where both defendants acknowledged their involvement in the scheme.