Finnish mother in 2004 custody case sentenced to 30 days in prison in USA

Struggle over custody was long-running news item

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A Finnish woman Outi Tasciotti (née Koski), the mother of two now teenage boys of American-Finnish nationality, has been jailed in the USA for contempt of court.
      In an interview with the Finnish News Agency STT yesterday, Outi Tasciotti’s solicitor Ulla-Riitta Harju reported that the mother of the two boys was sentenced to 30 days in prison with immediate effect.
      Ulla-Riitta Harju noted further that the charges against Outi Tasciotti were brought by her former husband, American John Rogers.
      In 2001, a US court granted the couple joint custody of their two sons. Following her visit to Finland with the boys two years later, the mother failed to return the children to the USA.
      Ulla-Riitta Harju stated that attempts are being made to secure the release of Outi Tasciotti as soon as possible.
     
The case of the two "Espoo boys" was a constant topic in the news during 2004, as Finnish courts turned this way and that before finally resolving to adhere to the terms of the Hague Convention on child protection, and the children were returned to their father.
      At the time, public opinion was running high on the matter, in part because of widespread tabloid coverage of the mother's side of the case. The details are given in the links below.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Espoo boys go home - to Greenville - for Christmas (BEHIND THE HEADLINES, 4.1.2005)
  Supreme Court rules for father in final decision in international custody case (21.12.2004)

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