Prosecutor drops case over alleged Satan’s Choice premises takeover

Prosecutors will not bring charges over an alleged robbery and unlawful occupation of clubhouse premises in Helsinki, Yle reports. Members of the motorcycle gang Satan’s Choice MC were accused of taking over premises rented by another motorcycle club in Malmi and assaulting the businessman who owned the hall.

Police investigated the case as suspected assault, extortion and unlawful interference with possession. During the consideration of charges, the suspected offences were classified as robbery and unlawful interference with possession.

The prosecutor said the robbery allegation was supported only by the businessman’s account and photographs he provided showing minor injuries. The suspected attacker denied everything. The businessman also withdrew his demands for punishment and compensation during the criminal investigation.

Landlord described a frightening encounter

The businessman gave police a detailed account of what he said happened at the premises.

The hall had previously been rented by a motorcycle club called Kraftwolf MC. After the club moved out, a small group of Satan’s Choice MC members began using the premises without permission.

The gang members did not pay rent. When the businessman told them that another tenant would move in after a couple of months, he said the leader of Satan’s Choice became extremely angry and summoned him to the clubhouse to discuss the matter.

“He said he was not going to touch me, but that this rent issue would now be settled,” the businessman later told police.

He arrived at the clubhouse he owned in May 2025. He was allowed inside, after which the door was closed and bolted. He said he then noticed an object resembling a whip in the hand of the gang’s spokesman.

“I went into shock, wondering what would happen. I am a religious man of peace and am not used to situations like this,” he told police.

The businessman said the gang leader swung the whip but apparently accidentally hit himself in the face, causing him to start bleeding.

“The gang leader pushed me to the floor. I managed to get up, but he knocked me down again and put his shoe on my throat,” the businessman said in his statement to police.

According to the businessman, the gang leader said the matter would be settled by allowing the group to stay rent-free for the rest of 2025, after which the rent would be set at 1,000 euros a month in 2026. The businessman said he agreed to everything. The previous tenant had paid 2,250 euros a month.

The businessman said his smartwatch began issuing a fall alert and suggesting a call to the emergency number. He said the gang members removed the watch and smashed it.

He said the gang leader eventually apologised but still insisted that the group be allowed to keep the premises rent-free.

“The situation comes back to me and I still experience genuine fear. I hope for help in resolving the situation as peacefully as possible,” the landlord told police.

Suspected attacker denied meeting landlord

The case involved a man known as a mixed martial arts fighter who had appeared with his face visible in Satan’s Choice social media posts. The businessman identified him from a police photograph.

The man denied ever even seeing the landlord.

“I am a professional mixed martial arts fighter, and if I had assaulted him, the injuries would have been much more serious than those shown in the pictures I saw of the complainant,” he said during police questioning.

When police asked where he had been on the evening of the alleged assault, he replied that he honestly could not remember, but said he had not fought with an elderly person.

Former professional criminal Lauri “Late” Johansson, who has been convicted of murder and is now a Christian evangelist, also played a supporting role in the events.

The businessman told police that he had asked Johansson, a fellow believer, for help. Johansson then made a mediation call to Satan’s Choice. The gang leader allegedly reacted angrily and shouted that the businessman had threatened his life.

Johansson did not want to comment on the matter to Yle.

Prosecutor found insufficient evidence of assault

The businessman sent police photographs showing redness and dried blood around his head. However, a medical examination one week after the alleged assault found no visible signs of injury.