Defence Staff Investigation Department used bugging devices against foreign spy suspect

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The Defence Staff Investigation Department, the purpose of which is to prevent military espionage, admits to having used bugging devices for the first time in Finland in exposing an espionage offence.
      The matter was disclosed in the Defence Staff's annual report to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, in which it was stated that the department resorted to "technical listening" last year.
      The use of bugging devices has not been revealed to the target. This would be possible only in the most exceptional of circumstances.
     
Deputy Ombudsman Ilkka Rautio acquired all the documents relating to the rare incident from the Defence Staff, and he personally interviewed the head of the Investigation Department.
      Rautio cleared the department head of any suspicions of malfeasance. In Rautio's view, he had not exceeded his discretion when approving the use of bugging equipment.
      Details of the entire incident have been declared secret, but the foremost purpose of the Defence Staff Investigation Department is to avert foreign espionage.
     
According to Defence Staff Investigation Department head Colonel Jyrki Laakso, the use of bugging devices was justified because there was suspicion that the target was a spy and that an espionage crime was in preparation.
      As a result of the bugging, these suspicions were confirmed to be correct.
      "Still, I hope rumours will not start spreading in the media that this was something enormous", Laakso comments.
      The law allows the Finnish Defence Forces to use technical listening in the form of hidden or directional microphones, whereas for example phone-tapping is forbidden.
      According to Laakso, technical listening was now used for the first time since it was made possible in 1995.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Army espionage trial opens behind closed doors; Russians believed offer was poisoned chalice (29.5.2001)
  FDF espionage case reveals first mole (11.5.2001)

Helsingin Sanomat