A Lappeenranta man, convicted of producing forged certificates for HIV tests for use in visa applications for travel to Russia was given a suspended sentence of ten months in Lappeenranta District Court on Wednesday.
The court found the Russian-born 47-year-old man guilty of forgery, possession of forging equipment, operating an insurance business without a licence, and a bookkeeping violation in connection with his Lappeenranta-based travel agency.
In 2006 the company submitted at least 78 forged certificates indicating negative HIV tests along with the visa applications of its costumers. The applications were for multiple-entry visas for travel to Russia.
The certificates had the forged signatures of three different doctors and information about a test laboratory.
Plaintiffs in the case were the doctors, and the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District, as well as the private Media Laboratories.
The defendant pleaded not guilty in the matter.
The defendant's company was also found to have illegally sold Russian car insurance policies, and was ordered to forfeit EUR 3,000 in illegal profit.
