Court finds Helsinki Mayor had conflict of interest on Malmi Airport plan
The Supreme Administrative Court has found that Helsinki’s current Mayor, Jussi Pajunen, had a conflict of interest when decisions were made on the urban plan for development of the area that is now being used as the Malmi Airport in the northeast of Helsinki.
The court found that a conflict of interest can exist if a person takes part in the decision-making process while serving on the board of a company that might benefit or be harmed by the decision. Pajunen was a member of the Helsinki City Board in 2002, when the decision was made.
In the view of the court, the conflict of interest arose from the fact that at the same time he also served as chairman of the board of the real estate development company Malmi Nova, which was planning an expansion of a nearby shopping centre.
The city plan calls for closing down the Malmi Airport, which is used by light aircraft, and turning it into a residential area for 10,000 people.
The Supreme Administrative Court feels that setting up a large residential area near the shopping mall has significant economic implications for Malmi Nova.
The Court found that although a procedural error took place in the decision-making process, it was not so great that the entire decision of the City Council would need to be reversed - only the parts relating to the Malmi Airport.
The court also emphasised that the partial reversal does not constitute an opinion on the future use of the airport land.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 8.11.2006 - TODAY |
 Court finds Helsinki Mayor had conflict of interest on Malmi Airport plan
|
|
