Disgruntled businessman threatened to shoot Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila
Jorma Ollila
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The Helsinki Appeals Court decided on Thursday to uphold the 5-month suspended sentence given to a 55-year-old entrepreneur from Helsinki, who wrote a threatening letter to Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO of mobile phones giant Nokia.
The businessman, who works in information technology, threatened to shoot Jorma Ollila in the spring of 2003.
In a letter delivered to Ollila's home address, the resentful businessman wrote: "Just one rifle shot and that'll be the end of it, or if it hits the knee, you'll remember for the rest of your life why only one sock is needed when getting dressed in the mornings. Or a family member may well get in the way, in which case it would be a draw."
A few days later the police raided the man's house, but they found no firearms. The man was taken in for questioning, and he spent ten days in pre-trial custody.
According to the businessman, the reason behind the letter was an ongoing feud of fifteen years between himself and Nokia about development and copying of a computer software system.
The man believes Nokia's actions have caused him the loss of his business, his property, and his and his wife's health.
The Espoo District Court concluded that Ollila had reason to fear that he and his family were in grave danger. The prolonged dispute between the two parties made the threat all the more serious.
The District Court convicted the businessman of issuing illegal threats in September 2003. At Ollila's request the Court also declared the court proceedings material classified for ten years.
The businessman appealed the sentence to the Helsinki Appeals Court. He felt the punishment was too harsh, as he had never intended to carry out his threat. He had not understood his letter would cause fear and alarm.
The Appeals Court did not challenge the lower court's sentence, but found no basis for declaring the content of the proceedings secret. Only Ollila's home address would remain undisclosed.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 25.2.2005 - TODAY |
 Disgruntled businessman threatened to shoot Nokia CEO Jorma Ollila
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