Two National Coalition Party parliamentarians convicted in separate court cases

Kimmo Sasi fined over fatal car crash, Petri Salo fined for slander

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The Tampere District Court on Friday sentenced National Coalition Party MP Kimmo Sasi to 70 day fines in a case involving a fatal crash in March in which he was the driver. With Sasi's monthly income of slightly more than EUR 9,000, the income-linked fine amounts to EUR 6,160.
      Meanwhile, another National Coalition Party MP, Petri Salo, was found guilty of slander by the Vaasa Court of Appeals.
     
Sasi's crash occurred as he was driving from an election campaign event. In court he said that the case was an unavoidable accident caused by a sudden illness. However, the court found that Sasi should have stopped his car as soon as he felt unwell.
      The court could not determine whether or not Sasi's loss of consciousness was the result of falling asleep due to sleep apnea, or fainting caused by a sudden drop of blood pressure. However, it found that either way, Sasi should have stopped driving as soon as he noticed an odd sensation.
      Sasi does not plan to appeal his sentence, and hopes that the case will serve as an example to other motorists on the importance of reacting to strange feelings.
      In addition to the fine, Sasi was ordered to pay autopsy and other costs amounting to more than EUR 1,200.
     
The case of MP Petri Salo, who is also a member of the local council of the municipality of Alahärmä, stems from an incident in which he claimed that another local council member had been involved with illegal drugs, and that the police had conducted a house search of the member's home.
      Salo had previously been found guilty of slander by Kauhava District Court, but the lower court imposed no sentence, because the crime was seen to be minor. However, it did order Salo to pay the plaintiff EUR 2,000 in damages.
      Salo himself appealed the sentence to the Vaasa Court of Appeals, which imposed a fine on him.
      Contrary to the view of the lower court, the Court of Appeals found that Salo's crime was not so minor that no sentence would have been warranted. In addition to keeping in force the EUR 2,000 in damages, Salo was ordered to pay 30 day fines.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  MP Kimmo Sasi to face charges over fatal car crash (31.7.2007)
  No medical explanation found for Sasi accident (9.3.2007)
  Somali community not planning to take legal action against MP Salo (9.3.2007)
  Chairman Katainen disapproves of National Coalition MP´s racist remarks (6.3.2007)
  Prosecution calls for heavy fine at least for MP Kimmo Sasi over fatal car crash (23.10.2007)

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