Prosecutor drops case against state residential school director

Prosecutors will not bring charges against Kaisa Tammi, head of the state-run residential schools for children, after finding no evidence of a crime, Yle reports.

Tammi had been investigated on suspicion of breaching official secrecy and defaming someone in 2024 and 2025. The allegations related to her work as director of the schools.

The investigation began after Jani Méling, who was then a development manager and worked under Tammi, filed a police complaint. Méling said Tammi had smeared him and spread false information about him at meetings and during the process that led to his suspension from office. Tammi had suspended him over criminal suspicions against him.

The prosecutor said the investigation showed Tammi had acted as her duties required. Neither witness statements nor documents contained anything that met the legal definition of defamation, the prosecutor said.

Méling also alleged that Tammi had disclosed information to outsiders about the criminal suspicion against him and an internal audit report. Investigators found no evidence that she had unlawfully revealed confidential information or documents. Tammi denied committing any crime.

In September, Helsinki District Court fined Méling for negligently breaching his official duties. The ruling is not final. Police in Oulu are also investigating suspected crimes related to the state-run residential schools, but have not said how many people are suspected or what offences are being examined.