Charged reporter Rebekka Härkönen leaves MTV

Crime reporter Rebekka Härkönen has ended her work at Finnish broadcaster MTV, Yle reported, after she was charged with aiding a breach of secrecy. She announced the decision on Instagram and said the ongoing criminal case had led events to move quickly.

Härkönen said she continues to deny committing a crime. Yle contacted her on Thursday afternoon, but she declined to comment.

Yle reported earlier this month that Härkönen was charged in September with aiding a breach of secrecy. A 46-year-old man, Toni Iinatti, is charged with breach of secrecy, while a 27-year-old man is charged with aiding the offence. The alleged crimes took place in Akaa, in the Pirkanmaa region, in October and November 2024. Details of the charges are confidential until they are read in court.

The case is linked to allegations that information from an ongoing National Bureau of Investigation drug probe was passed to Swedish criminal leader Ismail Abdo. Suomen Kuvalehti reported that a journalist was suspected of acting as an intermediary in the alleged leak; Yle has identified that journalist as Härkönen. Abdo is described as the leader of the Rumba criminal network and is suspected in Sweden of serious drug and violent offences.

Iinatti was described as holding a significant position in a criminal network that police suspected was led by Abdo. The Turku Court of Appeal sentenced him to more than 12 years in prison, including for aggravated drug offences.

Yle said it is highly unusual in Finland for a journalist to be charged with aiding a breach of secrecy. It said it named Härkönen because she is a known, award-winning reporter and the case has significant public interest. Härkönen previously declined to comment to Suomen Kuvalehti, citing source protection, which Yle said also raises questions concerning freedom of speech.