Prosecutor to evaluate fraud and breach of duty charges against former ambassador Vilén | Yle News

In June, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Helsinki police to investigate expenditure requests made by Jari Vilén, the former Finnish ambassador to Canada.

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Helsinki police have completed a preliminary investigation into suspicions of fraud and breach of duty against the former Finnish Ambassador to Canada. Jari Vilénsent the file to prosecutors to evaluate the charges.

Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs He applied to the Helsinki police in June To investigate expense claims filed by Vilén. The Ministry suspected that Vilén’s family’s reasons for claiming certain expenses, including a request for a relocation allowance, did not always meet the requirements.

The ministry believes Vilén applied for full family resettlement benefits from September 2023 to May 2024, even though his family members do not live full-time in Canada’s capital, Ottawa.

Finnish media reported He said the ministry was trying to recover about 37,000 euros from Vilén.

In a Facebook post over the summer, Vilén said he had offered the ministry a way to repay the money and planned to refund the full amount.

Written warning of sexual harassment

vilen received a written warning From the State Department in May for inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment.

In a press release issued at the time, the ministry said Vilén “did not act in accordance with his status and duties as a public official,” adding that his behavior met the definitions of inappropriate conduct, harassment and sexual harassment.

However, the statement stated that Vilén remained in the ministry because the threshold for dismissal had not yet been reached.

Vilén served as ambassador in Ottawa until the end of June, when he was relieved of his duties by the President. Alexander Stubb On the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (NCP). He was later sent back to Helsinki and given other assignments.