Classic Radio could lose its licence

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The Council of State is considering the withdrawal of the broadcasting licence of Classic Radio, a Helsinki-based radio station owned by 4Radio Oy.
      Jussi Mäkinen, a special advisor at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, says that the ministry is investigating whether or not the company is still qualified to keep its licence.
      The underlying factor behind the reconsideration is the fact that the parent company is being investigated by the Helsinki Police Department in connection with suspected economic crimes.
      The police report that they conducted a search at the company’s premises earlier this year.
      The police are not disclosing for the time being what exactly is the offence they are investigating. However, the crimes in question are apparently serious.
     
Initially the suspicions were not focused on Classic Radio. However, the radio station and its parent company became targets when the police were investigating a suspected charity fraud by an organisation called Malttia liikennevalistusyhdistys ry.
      Earlier this year the police reported that they suspected that a charity drive the association had run was an aggravated fraud and a fundraising scam.
      The organisation had sold reflective vests and traffic guides, promising to donate the sold items to schools and day care centres.
      The organisation had managed to collect a total of EUR 1.2 million, but only a small part of the funds were used as promised.
      At present, the police are unwilling to comment on the connection of the fundraising organisation and Classic Radio.
      According to the information gleaned by Helsingin Sanomat, largely the same persons are involved in both organisations.
     
4Radio acquired Classic Radio and its licence from Metroradio Finland in the summer of 2008. Already at that point the Council of State almost refused the transfer of the licence, as the financial situation of 4Radio was not regarded as sufficiently stable.
      The employees of the company have been dissatisfied with the personnel policy pursued by the new management, and some of them have even handed in their notice.
      Timo Tontti, Managing Director at 4Radio, denies that their licence is being reconsidered. However, Tontti is unwilling to comment on the alleged crime suspicions, while saying that nothing should be written about him.
     
In addition to Classic Radio, 4Radio is running a few Internet radio stations, which have registered a number of websites advertising imports of cars and a media billboard operating at Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi culture and media centre.


Links:
  4Radio

Helsingin Sanomat