Finnish prosecutors to decide on appeal in Auer and Ihle acquittal

The deadline for prosecutors to appeal the acquittal of Anneli Auer and Jens Ihle on sexual abuse charges expires Friday, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.

The Turku District Court unanimously dismissed all charges against Auer and Ihle on April 29. Prosecutor-General Ari-Pekka Koivisto signaled dissatisfaction with the verdict in early May, raising expectations of an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Under Finnish law, prosecutors must first notify the court of their intent to appeal within seven days of the ruling. A formal appeal must then be filed within 30 days. If prosecutors either decline to appeal or fail to secure permission for further review—required because the case involves an overturned prison sentence—the district court’s acquittal will stand.

Legal correspondent Päivi Happonen told Yle that permission for continued proceedings is mandatory when the contested sentence is less than eight months’ imprisonment. Happonen declined to speculate on whether prosecutors would appeal, noting that Koivisto had not disclosed his decision in their recent discussion.

The Supreme Court of Finland overturned Auer and Ihle’s original convictions in 2024, citing recanted testimony from Auer’s three children, who admitted to lying to police and courts about the alleged abuses. The case was remanded for retrial in district court.

If the acquittal becomes final, Auer and Ihle are expected to seek substantial compensation for wrongful imprisonment. Auer was initially sentenced to seven and a half years in 2013; Ihle received a 10-year term.