Five men face rare hostage-taking charge in Turku case

Five men in their twenties are due to face a rare hostage-taking charge this week over an alleged incident in southwest Finland in 2022, Yle reports.

The alleged crime took place in Turku, Paimio and Salo in April 2022. According to the indictment, the hostage situation continued for two days. The charges are expected to be heard in open court on Friday at the Southwest Finland District Court in Turku.

The men are accused of taking a man in his twenties hostage and assaulting him. The alleged victim also has a criminal history. All five defendants have previously been accused of several crimes, and they are also charged together with aggravated violation of domestic peace.

Statistics Finland figures indicate that hostage-taking charges are unusual in the country. From 2015 to 2024, courts issued convictions for the offence in only eight cases.

Hostage-taking involves using one person to force a third party to do something, and may include threats to the hostage’s life or health. The crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Yle says it does not know what circumstances are alleged in the case now before the court. Police have recorded more than 30 reports of hostage-taking over the past 20 years.

Finland’s perhaps best-known hostage case occurred in 2009, when a man from Turku held a woman from a wealthy family captive for more than two weeks and demanded a ransom for her release. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.