Police suspect Alma Media executive of discriminating against Johanna Korhonen

Prosecutors considering formal indictment

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The Helsinki Criminal Police suspect that an executive of Alma Media discriminated against journalist Johanna Korhonen when her appointment as editor-in-chief of the Rovaniemi-based newspaper Lapin Kansa was cancelled.
      Johanna Korhonen was removed from the post before she had a chance to start her work. According to the police investigation, there is cause to suspect that the executive is guilty of discrimination.
      “Korhonen was placed in a negative position without a good and acceptable reason by cancelling her labour contract in a discriminatory manner”, says Sampsa Marttila of the Helsinki Police Department.
      From the police, the papers will go to District Prosecutor Tuire Tamminiemi, who expects the consideration of a formal indictment to be ready in the autumn.
     
The Uusimaa Occupational Safety District had noted in its inspection that Alma Media treated Korhonen in a discriminatory manner, and that there was no legal basis for sacking her.
      Korhonen feels that the real reason why she was terminated was that she lives in a registered civil union with another woman.
      Alma Media maintains that the cause for the termination was dishonesty on Korhonen’s part; during the job interview she had not corrected the interviewer’s erroneous impression that her partner was a man.
     
Several representatives of Alma Media were interviewed during the police investigation. With the exception of one director, all the others were cleared of suspicion.
      In addition to the criminal case, Johanna Korhonen also has a civil case pending against Alma Media.
      In the civil case, Alma Media won the first round when Helsinki District Court rejected her demand for EUR 230,000 in damages, ordering Korhonen to pay EUR 8,000 in Alma Media’s court costs.
      She is appealing the decision.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Police suspect Alma Media executive of discrimination in Korhonen case (5.8.2009)
  Helsinki court rejects job discrimination lawsuit against Alma Media (10.6.2009)
  Editor Johanna Korhonen vs. Alma Media in court (7.5.2009)
  Editor Johanna Korhonen demands damages from Lapin Kansa (31.10.2008)
  New editor-in-chief dropped from newspaper, allegedly over lesbian relationship (2.10.2008)

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