Kittilä mayor Timo Kurula remains in office despite two prison sentences

The municipality of Kittilä’s mayor, Timo Kurula, will remain in his position despite two prison sentences. The latest ruling from the Supreme Court was reviewed by the Kittilä municipal council on Monday. This marks Kurula’s second prison sentence during his tenure as mayor. The council found no reason to take action against Kurula following the sentencing, choosing only to inform the municipal council of the judgment.

The crimes for which Kurula was convicted occurred ten years ago, prior to his becoming mayor, during which time he served as the chair of Kittilä’s municipal council. He received an 80-day suspended prison sentence for attempted fraud, breach of official duties, and abuse of office. Last year, he was also sentenced to 60 days’ suspended imprisonment for abuse of office.

Juha Myllymäki, legal director of the Finnish Association of Municipalities, noted that such cases are rare in his career and the situation in Kittilä is particularly unique, making it difficult to find comparable instances. Typically, a mayor receiving a prison sentence would resign voluntarily or be relieved of their duties, with Myllymäki estimating a 99% likelihood of departure under such circumstances. However, he pointed out that the final decision lies with the municipal council, which possesses a broad discretionary power in these matters.

After last year’s conviction, Kittilä’s municipal council again opted to simply inform the council of the judgment, although there was a counter-proposal for initiating a process to terminate Kurula’s employment, which was decisively rejected. The council is set to discuss the recent ruling on September 30. Myllymäki could not recall any instance where a mayor continued in their role despite a prison sentence, as such occurrences are exceedingly rare.