Jere Karalahti sentenced to day-fines for use of cocaine

Ice hockey player Jere Karalahti, whose appearances in these columns of late have sadly more often been about things off the ice, has been sentenced to ten day-fines by the Helsinki District Court for illegal use of narcotics.
      Karalahti, who currently plays ice hockey with the German team Hamburg Freezers, was ordered to pay EUR 1,490 in total.
      The court’s decision was based in part on assumptions of what had happened. The court found that the evidence, though not perfect, was still quite strong and believable.
     
In the case, photographs that were taken at the home of a friend of Karalahti’s in March 2007 were used as evidence.
      The incriminating photographs showed Karalahti with white stuff under his nostril, with a bag containing white powder on a table behind him.
      Subsequent laboratory research also revealed traces of cocaine in objects confiscated from the premises.
      The prosecutor called for a minimum of one-year suspended sentence for Karalahti and his friend for an aggravated narcotics offence.
     
Karalahti denied the accusations, but said also that because of his state of intoxication that evening he was unable to remember what exactly went on.
      According to Karalahti, it was possible that he either used or did not use drugs that night.
      Karalahti explained that he had gone to his friend’s place to celebrate the end of the Finnish Ice Hockey League’s regular season.
      Karalahti’s friend received a ten-month suspended sentence for a narcotics offence and an aggravated firearms offence. An unauthorised flare pen pistol and a gas spray were discovered from his home.
      In March of this year Karalahti was found guilty of aiding and abetting in a case of aggravated drug crime and received a suspended prison sentence. That case is now heading to the Appeal Court.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Suspended sentence for hockey player Jere Karalahti in drug trial (25.3.2008)
  Karalahti denies allegations of possession and use of cocaine (18.11.2008)
  Jere Karalahti facing charges on yet another narcotics offence (6.11.2008)

See also:
  Jere Karalahti presents a challenge to his coach (30.9.2008)

Links:
  Jere Karalahti (Wikipedia)