Trial begins for human trafficking case involving Kiantamaa in Lapland District Court
The human trafficking trial concerning the berry-picking company Kiantamaa at the Lapland District Court focused on defining the criteria for human trafficking, forced labor, and debt bondage. Kalyakorn “Durian” Phongpit, who is accused of aggravated human trafficking, denied the charges through his lawyer, Jaakko Kuparinen, asserting that the pickers were healthy adults who voluntarily came to Finland. Kuparinen claimed that many of the pickers earned well.
“In 2022, there were 481 pickers under the same conditions at Kiantamaa. Why have charges of aggravated human trafficking only been filed in 62 cases? This speaks against the prosecutor’s arguments,” Kuparinen stated. Thai national Durian acted as Kiantamaa’s business partner, overseeing the training and coordination of the pickers’ arrival in Finland. Together with Kiantamaa’s CEO, Vernu Vasunta, he faces charges of 62 counts of aggravated human trafficking, with prosecutors seeking prison sentences of 3 to 4 years for both; they have denied their guilt.
Attorney Tuomas Sunnari, representing the pickers, highlighted that individuals can fall victim to human trafficking even if they don’t realize it themselves. “One may end up a victim of trafficking despite willingly entering a situation if the circumstances align with the trafficking definition,” he noted, mentioning that passports were confiscated.
The financial outcomes for the Thai pickers were dire, with incorrect weighing and exorbitant costs leading to net losses. Attorney Hanna-Maria Seppä disclosed that pickers were charged 25 euros daily for accommodation and food, and an additional 260 euros for training and health checks, in violation of berry-picking laws.
The prosecution claims that the confiscation of passports, the debt relationship with the company, and misleading information fulfill the elements of human trafficking. The trial will continue on Wednesday, allowing the defense of Kiantamaa’s CEO to present their case.