The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is not starting an investigation into the boards that reportedly were supplied to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) for his home building project.
The NBI says that there will be no investigation mainly because any possible crime in the matter took place such a long time ago that prosecution is not possible.
The current affairs programmeSilminnäkijä (“Eyewitness”) on the Finnish Broadcasting Company's (YLE) TV2 channel brought forth the allegation that Vanhanen would have received a consignment of construction materials free of charge for his home construction project from a building company. The programme alleged that the same construction company worked contracts for Nuorisosäätiö, a youth housing foundation on whose board Vanhanen served as chairman.
Vanhanen said on Thursday that he will not go to court to protect his honour in the matter.
“The [construction magazine] TM Rakennusmailma will bring experts of its own choosing to the spot, and will conduct a survey. It is the way that I have available to me to clear up the fact that the consignment mentioned by YLE cannot be found”, Vanhanen said.
Vanhanen said that he had hoped that a police investigation would have been conducted.
Vanhanen did not join demands by Centre Party Parliamentary group leader Timo Kalli that YLE managing director Mikael Jungner should resign if YLE does not produce more evidence in the matter.
YLE has thus far been reluctant to be more forthcoming, in order to protect its anonymous source.
