Several Finnish peacekeepers are suspected of having known about bribes being taken by their colleagues in Afghanistan, and yet they did nothing about it, claims Finnish daily Aamulehti in its Friday issue.
Fewer than five peacekeepers from the Cimic Unit are suspected of having been aware of the illegal activities. The Defence Staff Investigation Division has commenced a preliminary investigation on the matter.
The peacekeepers are not suspected of having taken bribes, although, according to division head Jyrki Laakso this, too, is possible and will be looked into. According to Aamulehti, the new investigation will be extended to cover a time period running up to February of this year, so the number of suspects may become larger still.
Earlier this week, two Finnish peacekeepers in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were charged with aggravated accepting of bribes from local building contractors while serving in Afghanistan. The matter will go before a court in Helsinki next week.
