Police face assault charges of using excess force during Smash Asem riot

Criminal investigations over two arrests

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Police are suspected of having committed crimes during the Smash Asem demonstration linked with the Asia Europe Summit in Helsinki in September last year.
     District Prosecutor Sari Aho has initiated an investigation into two situations in which demonstrators were detained.
     Aho believes that there is reason to suspect that some police officers may have committed assault and neglected their official duties in the situations.
     
The first of the two arrests possibly involving excessive use of force occurred near Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the other was behind the Finnish National Museum.
     Aho decided to launch an initial inquiry on the basis of statements by those who were detained.
     "There have been some injuries", she says.
     Aho would not say on Friday how many police officers were suspected of crimes.
     "We are still investigating which officers took part in these arrests. It is likely that there were one or two for each arrest."
     This means that between two and four police officers could face charges.
     
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has questioned ten people so far, who have felt that they were victims of crimes committed by police. In eight of the cases the events are not expected to warrant further investigation. "In addition, four people are still to be heard, so it is possible that we will start a preliminary investigation into other arrests as well.
     Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman Jukka Lindstedt is also investigating police action in connection with the demonstration, on the basis of more than 60 complaints over the action of the police.
     
The events took place on the evening of September 9th last year.
     In the melee, police surrounded demonstrators and many bystanders in front of Kiasma, preventing them from leaving the area. A total of 136 people were detained in front of Kiasma and elsewhere in the centre of the city.
     Of the demonstrators, 86 face charges of violent rioting, illegally wearing a mask, and violent resistance against an official.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Police action in ASEM demo spark more than 25 complaints (14.9.2006)
  Complaints filed on police action during Smash Asem protest (12.9.2006)
  Articles on ASEM in Helsinki, September 2006

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