Paula Vesala arrives at hearing in Amirkhani case

Musician Paula Vesala arrived at the Länsi-Uusimaa District Court on Thursday as it continued hearing the case against mixed martial arts fighter Makwan Amirkhani, Yle reported. Vesala is due to be heard during the session.

Vesala, a longtime bandmate of musician Mira Luoti in PMMP, said she has spoken with Luoti about the events several times.

Amirkhani is accused of forcing Luoti to engage in a sexual act. The prosecutor says he held her, kissed her against her will, touched her over her clothes and masturbated in her presence. Amirkhani denies the charge.

Amirkhani says the encounter involved consensual kissing and hugging, and that it ended because he wanted it to. The alleged events relate to the 2017 television series Julkkisselviytyjät, filmed in Nuuksio, Espoo, in the summer of 2016. Luoti and Amirkhani competed as a pair.

The hearing is being held in public at the request of both Amirkhani and Luoti.