The state prosecutor has dropped all charges against Member of Parliament Paavo Arhinmäki (Left Alliance) and two other suspects as a result of insufficient evidence in the trial over the 2006 Smash Asem riot at Helsinki District Court yesterday.
Arhinmäki was charged with resisting police.
According to the charges, Arhinmäki and two other suspects failed to obey calls by police to move away in front of the Old Student House during the disturbances in the centre of Helsinki in September 2006.
However, the prosecutor had to admit that the statements of the witnesses did not support the charges.
"These three persons stayed in the area for a short time only, and there was no indication in the preliminary investigation material of the police to suggest that they were present at the time when the police issued their orders", reported Prosecutor Harri Ilander.
Arhinmäki stated that he had believed during the entire trial that the charges against him would be dismissed.
Moreover, Arhinmäki claimed that the charges against several other people could also be disputed. He regards the actions of the police and the prosecution service as excessive.
In all, police apprehended no fewer than 136 people in conjunction with the Smash Asem demonstration in downtown Helsinki on September 9th, 2006, while a total of 86 people faced charges in connection with the events surrounding the disturbance.
The District Court is expected to issue its ruling in December.
