Seven charged in Supo intelligence case, former chief faces new charge

Seven people have been charged in a criminal case concerning the intelligence activities of Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service, Yle reports. Former Supo chief Antti Pelttari faces a new charge of breach of official duty relating to August and September 2020.

The Deputy Prosecutor General has brought charges against seven people, according to the Finnish Prosecution Service. The latest charges were filed at Helsinki District Court on Monday, while some were brought earlier.

The investigation examined suspected offences involving 10 people. Prosecutors also issued 10 decisions not to prosecute in connection with various alleged offences involving nine people. All those investigated have denied committing crimes.

The case concerns suspected breaches at Supo of rules and regulations governing police powers, the use of official powers and the handling of confidential information during intelligence activities. The suspected offences include abuse of public office, breach of official duty and disclosure of a state secret.

Pelttari faces second charge

The new charge is Pelttari’s second for breach of official duty. The first was brought in July.

Pelttari was charged during the summer over actions taken while he was Supo chief. He is now the secretary general of the Finnish Parliament, its highest-ranking civil servant, and has been suspended from his position since last summer because of the criminal allegations.

According to information obtained by Yle, the case concerns the use of retired former Supo employees by the agency’s counterintelligence department for years as part of its intelligence source activities.