The case is related to human trafficking suspicions that have come to light in Finland.
In Thailand, two former ministers and two high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Labor are suspected of corruption. The Finnish police have given evidence to the Thai authorities.
Several Thai media are reporting on the matter. Official cooperation has been confirmed for STT.
In the investigation that started in Thailand, it is suspected that there is corruption behind the berry pickers coming to Finland. Among other things, according to the Bangkok Post, the suspected four have benefited financially from the fact that Thai pickers end up working in Finland.
The criminal suspicion applies to the years 2020–2023.
Suspicions of corruption are linked to the suspected exploitation and exploitation of Thai berry pickers in Finland.
It is suspected that the threshold money was demanded from the pickers
The special investigation unit of the Thai police, DSI, suspects that the suspects demanded a total of 36 million Thai baht, i.e. more than 900,000 euros, from the Thai job broker in exchange for the approval of the organization of Thai workers to Finland to pick wild berries.
According to DSI, the recruiter had to pay ministers and civil servants about 3,000 baht, or about 76 euros, for each picker who ended up in Finland. The job broker is said to have demanded an amount as threshold money from each of the approximately 12,000 pickers who traveled to Finland.
It is therefore suspected that the berry pickers had to pay a total of around 36 million baht in addition to other payments between 2020 and 2023.
According to DSI, some of the evidence comes from the Finnish authorities. The Central Criminal Police already said in 2022 that it had asked the Thai authorities for legal assistance in the criminal investigation of the berry industry.
Human trafficking charges in Finland
In Finland, in the entanglement of the berry industry, at the beginning of the year, prosecutors charged the CEO of Kiantama with human trafficking Vernu Vasuntaaformer CEO of Polarica Marjahankinta Oy Jukka Kristoa and against their Thai business partner.
All three suspects have pleaded not guilty.
Also CEO of Arctic Group companies Janne Naapanki suspected of human trafficking related to Thai berry pickers. He has pleaded not guilty.
Suspected corruption related to the berry industry has also been investigated in Finland. In the KRP’s investigation, the second suspect is the government advisor of the Ministry of Labor and Economy (TEM). Olli Sorainen. He is suspected of grossly accepting a bribe and breach of official duty as part of an extensive human trafficking investigation in the berry industry.
Sorainen has denied the criminal suspicions.