Some police officers suspected of crimes committed during Smash Asem demonstration still unidentified

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Finland’s central criminal police, have so far failed to ascertain the identity of those police officers who possibly used excessive force in conjunction with the arrests of demonstrators taking part in the Smash Asem protest in front of Kiasma, the Museum of Contemporary Art in central Helsinki, in September last year.
     
The Police are suspected of having committed assault and neglecting their official duties in conjunction with the arrests.
      According to the head of the investigation, District Prosecutor Sari Aho, the suspicion of crime is based on the account of one of those apprehended, who says he was beaten with a baton and kicked in the head.
      The suspected police officers are likely to have been wearing riot gear.
      "We are still looking into which police officers the injured party is referring to. It is not clear who has been involved with the plaintiff and at which stage."
      According to Aho, the NBI is still trying to get more precise information from the apprehended demonstrator as to where and when the police allegedly assaulted him.
      "There were police officers there from different parts of Finland. It is difficult to establish which department’s people have been where during the incident."
     
The NBI is also looking into the actions of the police in another apprehension situation. A crime is suspected of having taken place when the officers moved a person apprehended near the Parliament building from a vehicle into a custody cell in the district of Töölö.
      In this case the identities of the two involved police officers have been established, Aho explains.
      They are also suspected of having committed assault and negligence in the carrying out of their official duties.
      In this case, Aho believes the matter may enter the consideration of charges phase already in the coming weeks.
     
In all, police apprehended no fewer than 136 people in conjunction with the Smash Asem demonstration in front of Kiasma and elsewhere in downtown Helsinki.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Police face assault charges of using excess force during Smash Asem riot (12.3.2007)
  Police action in ASEM demo sparks more than 25 complaints (14.9.2006)
  Complaints filed on police action during Smash Asem protest (12.9.2006)

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