Police investigate Oulu leaders over former employee’s dismissal

Police in Oulu are investigating several city leaders over the dismissal of former Oulu city employment relations manager Mauri Mikkola, Yle reports. The suspected offences are abuse of public office and discrimination at work.

Police said the investigation concerns people who had the authority to dismiss Mikkola. The suspects are therefore senior Oulu city officials. The dismissal decision was made by Oulu Mayor Ari Alatossava in January 2025.

Kaleva previously reported that Alatossava is among the suspects. Police have not identified those under investigation, but said several people are suspected.

The city justified Mikkola’s dismissal by citing a breakdown of trust. Mikkola had submitted requests for police investigations into several people in the city leadership. The city said he had breached his duty of loyalty.

Mikkola appealed the decision to an administrative court, which found that the dismissal was not lawful because it had not been carried out within a reasonable time. The city has applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court.

Some of the grounds cited for the dismissal had been known to the city as early as summer 2023, although the dismissal was not made until early 2025.

Oulu police began a preliminary investigation after a request from Mikkola. A criminal investigation was launched on the basis of that review.

Mirja Vehkaperä, the former chair of the Oulu city board, declined to confirm or deny whether she had been questioned by police in connection with the case.

“I will not comment on the matter in any way,” Vehkaperä said.

The investigation is ongoing and is expected to be completed this year.