Nightwish manager Ewo Pohjola charged with assault in Tampere

Ewo Pohjola, the manager of the band Nightwish, has been charged with assault. The regional prosecutor, Veera Harjuniemi, confirmed the information to Yle. The news is notable given Pohjola’s prominent position in the music industry.

Allegations of the assault surfaced in February when two women reported that Pohjola had physically attacked them at a cultural event in Tampere last October. One woman recounted that Pohjola had approached her at the bar with another man, complimenting her on her beauty. According to her account, he left the bar briefly, only to return and choke her for several seconds. Following the incident, Pohjola allegedly remarked that the situation felt exciting to him.

The second woman detailed how Pohjola forcefully pulled her close at the same event, near the bar. After the initial altercation, she felt someone yanking her hair, drawing her closer. Despite multiple requests for him to stop, she eventually managed to break free from his grasp.

Yle made attempts to contact Pohjola for comment but was unable to reach him. However, in February, he denied the allegations, stating, “I was there, and that’s what makes this strange. Neither I nor anyone in our company has any idea about this. It’s peculiar.”