A Finnish court sentenced the chief executive of a transport company to three years and eight months in prison for exporting trucks and trailers to Russia in violation of EU sanctions, the Finnish public service broadcaster, Yle, reported Wednesday.
The South Karelia District Court found that Risto Riihimäki, head of Lappeenranta-based Idän Liikenteenvälitys IL Oy, played a central role in sending 164 trucks and trailers to Russia in 2022 and 2023, despite restrictions imposed after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.The company, which now operates as Rent ja Kalusto Oy, had declared that the vehicles were bound for companies registered in Turkey and Kazakhstan and were only transiting through Russia, according to Yle.
The court found that the vehicles in fact ended up in Russia, rather than merely passing through the country. It also ordered the company to forfeit about 600,000 euros ($685,134) in criminal proceeds and property worth 6 million euros ($6.85 million) to the state. Riihimäki denied wrongdoing, saying he believed the vehicles were going to Kazakhstan. The ruling can be appealed.
