Ongoing human trafficking investigations cost millions in Finland

Ongoing human trafficking cases involving berry-picking companies are expected to incur substantial costs. According to data from the National Bureau of Investigation, the preliminary investigations for the berry company Polarica and Kiantama had already cost €1,497,212 by the end of June. This total includes about €765,000 in fixed wages and €732,198 in other expenses. When additional court costs for the Finnish state are factored in, the overall expenses could rise to several million euros.

Calculating average investigation costs can be challenging unless a case is treated as a distinct project by the police. For instance, the lengthy Vastaamo investigation, initiated in 2020, has led to salary expenses exceeding €2.2 million by July 2023 alone, amounting to approximately 33 man-years of work, not including other associated costs.

The investigations have involved an unusually high number of individuals, with 139 Thai berry pickers as victims. The police have had to conduct hearings for some individuals in Thailand. The extent of the preliminary investigation material is also significant, with 10,000 pages for Polarica and 6,000 pages for Kiantama.

The Kiantama trial began in August at the Rovaniemi District Court, with proceedings scheduled until the end of March. The trial for Polarica is expected to commence next spring. Both trials may continue to higher courts.

The accused in the Kiantama case include CEO Vernu Vasunta and his Thai business partner Kalyakorn “Durian” Phongpit. In the Polarica trial, the former CEO Jukka Kristo and the same Thai partner face accusations. All defendants in the three trials have denied the charges.

The total costs of the trials are difficult to estimate, but the presence of multiple claimants and the need for translators and travel expenses for witnesses from Thailand could lead to expenses accumulating significantly. The state will cover the legal fees for both the victims’ advocates and the defendants, with a possibility of recovery from those convicted. If found guilty, the defendants may face penalties exceeding €1 million across the cases.