China Center in Kouvola hopes to continue operations despite earlier criminal investigation

Border Guard stops investigation, police continue inquiries

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The door of one business has a chain lock on it, while another is full of empty cardboard boxes and other debris. There are few customers in those stores that do remain open.
      One does not need to walk around Kouvola’s Nordic China Center very much to know that the shopping complex is in trouble.
      “I don’t know what I would say. This is a nightmare for us”, says the center’s executive director Siqui Wang.
     
The shopping mall on the outskirts of the southeastern city of Kouvola has been suffering from a shortage of customers ever since the Border Guard conducted a raid on the premises in November. The massive operation involved more than 150 officials.
      The Border Guard suspected that the shopping mall, and the Leishi health and fitness centre in nearby Valkeala operated as fronts in a scam aimed at fraudulently getting residence permits and visas for immigrants. More than 10 people were under suspicion of organising illegal entry.
      Now the Border Guard has decided to close down the investigation. The news was first reported by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE).
     
The collapse of the investigation came after a decision handed down by the Finnish Supreme Court earlier this year, according to which a visa which has been approved is legal, even if it was obtained through false pretenses.
      “The decision of the Supreme Court changed our investigation, in that the act that we were investigating was no longer a crime”, says the head of the investigation, Sami Maila of the Finnish Border Guard.
     
Police are nevertheless still investigating the case. The economic crimes unit of Southeast Finland suspects that key figures at the centre have committed tax fraud and bookkeeping crime.
      Wang says that the investigations have caused the number of businesses at the China Center to decline from 70 to about 20. He says that the owners are considering suing for damages over the closure of businesses.
      According to Wang, the aim is for the China Center to remain open. There is a plan to open a second furniture store there.
     
The criminal investigation has been a public relations setback for both the businesses operating at the China Center, and for Kouvola itself.
      Kouvola, which serves as an important rail junction, has been calling for better rail links to Asia, and the China Center has been seen as one way to establish relations toward the East.
     
“It would be a shame if cooperation were flushed away completely because some group has launched such a massive offensive”, says Aimo Ahti, Kouvola’s deputy mayor responsible for business.
      Ahti was one of the suspects. He criticised investigators for not shutting down the investigation immediately when the Supreme Court’s ruling was made. Instead, the Border Guard continued its investigation, mentioning lesser crimes as the cause for action.
      “Much harm has been caused”, Ahti says.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Stunned atmosphere at Kouvola China Center after immigration raid (13.11.2009)
  Border Guard and police raid Kouvola´s China Center in immigration sweep (12.11.2009)
  China Center in Kouvola opens today (20.9.2007)
  Chinatown rises in Kouvola (30.5.2006)

Links:
  Kouvola´s China Center continues to suffer from growing pains (3.4.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat