The internal inspection unit of the Ministry of the Interior is to investigate whether or not the Sako hunting rifles taken off the market by the manufacturer had undergone proper inspection by officials.
Last year about 2,700 rifles manufactured at the Sako factory in Riihimäki were found to have a dangerous defect. Because of faulty raw materials, some of the guns have exploded while being fired.
The report is to be issued by mid-April. Interior Minister Kari Rajamäki (SDP) said on Wednesday that the internal inspection unit is also looking into "why the ministry leadership, including the minister, were not informed" of the faulty weapons.
Sako informed the relevant unit in the Ministry of the Interior about the defective guns already in October 2003, but the matter did not become public knowledge until Helsingin Sanomat wrote an article on the subject.
