Man sentenced to two years for attempted murder plot against businessman Toivo Sukari in Finland

The District Court of Western Uusimaa has sentenced a 45-year-old man to two years of conditional imprisonment for the preparation of a serious offense against life or health and for making illegal threats. In a message sent in September 2021 via the Tor network, he inquired whether anyone was interested in carrying out a hit for €5,000. The website’s administrator replied, indicating that several hitmen were interested, leading the man to fill out an order form to have businessman Toivo Sukari killed, even attaching a picture of Sukari.

Subsequently, he transferred an amount equivalent to approximately €5,000 in bitcoins as a reward for fulfilling the order. He later sent an additional sum worth €2,000 in bitcoins. In January 2022, the website’s administrator informed him that the murder would occur within a few days; however, no murder took place.

The convicted man stated that he had harbored feelings of hatred towards Sukari and his wife, believing they were thriving while he was struggling. He claimed he did not intend to act seriously, admitting to sending the messages, transferring the money, and providing information about the intended victim, but denying any genuine intent to have Sukari killed. He argued that the website he used to order the hit was “obviously” a scam and claimed that there was no real danger of the crime being executed.

The court found his explanation unconvincing, stating that the actual transfer of funds indicated a genuine intent to arrange for the killing. The seriousness of the offense strongly justified a custodial sentence, but due to the man’s health condition, it was imposed as conditional. In addition to the charge related to Sukari, the man was also convicted of making illegal threats against Sukari’s wife in 2018. He had sent her multiple threatening text messages and emails. The ruling has not yet become final.