Katainen: Jaskari cannot return as Nat. Coalition Party secretary

Police conclude investigation into allegations of violence and commercial sex

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National Coalition Party chairman Jyrki Katainen says that the party's former secretary Harri Jaskari, who faces possible criminal charges, cannot return to his old post in the party because of the negative publicity surrounding the affair.
      Police investigating the allegations by Jaskari's former girlfriend completed their initial investigation on Tuesday. The police suspect Jaskari of pandering, four cases of unlawful threats, and three assaults in 2004-2006.
      The case now goes to district prosecutor Jouni Peräinen, who will consider if the findings are serious enough to prosecute. Peräinen said that he would make a decision later this autumn.
     
When the allegations were made last month Jaskari provisionally stepped aside from his party post and was replaced by Taru Turunen.
      It was initially understood that Jaskari could return to the post if he is cleared of the charges.
      Katainen says that he discussed the matter with Jaskari on Tuesday and both agreed that Jaskari's return would not be possible. Katainen said that the publicity surrounding the case has affected Jaskari's ability to serve as the head of the party office.
      "It is sad that because of public pressure it was not possible to wait for the prosecutor's decision. I feel that it would have been more just to wait ", Jaskari commented.
      He said that he now plans to concentrate on his candidacy in the upcoming Parliamentary elections. "If charges are filed on some matter later, I will reconsider my candidacy."
     
Jaskari had met his former girlfriend in her native Estonia in the spring of 2003. The relationship ended in early 2005, but the woman had left some of her belongings in Jaskari's Helsinki apartment. Jaskari told reporters last month that early this year the woman "showed up again", and he gave her the key to the apartment so that she might move her belongings out.
      In the summer he says that he had noticed that far from taking her things out, the woman appeared to be living in the apartment. At this point, he installed an extra lock, and sent her a registered letter giving her until mid-July to remove her goods, or he would sell them at auction.
      Later he learned that he was under suspicion of using violence against the woman, and of effectively serving as her pimp.
     
Helsinki Criminal Police confirmed on Tuesday that the suspicions of procurement are based on a loan of EUR 1,000.
      Police suspect that the woman in question would have offered sex services from Jaskari's apartment as a way of paying her debt to the former party secretary.
      In a magazine interview, she said that she had raised money to pay off the debt by offering striptease services and erotic massage in Jaskari's apartment.
      Police suspect that Jaskari had known about what the woman was doing in the apartment. However, Jaskari is not under suspicion of having pressured the woman into the offering sex services for money.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Opposition party secretary steps down over criminal investigation (16.10.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat