HS journalists acquitted in libel case brought by former MP over sexual harassment allegations

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The Helsinki District Court handed down its ruling on Friday in a libel case brought by former MP Lyly Rajala (Nat. Coalition Party).
      The court acquitted four Helsingin Sanomat journalists on charges of aggravated libel arising out of an article published in January 2008 in the print newspaper (and carried in the International Edition), relating to claims of sexual harassment in Parliament.
     
According to Rajala, the piece contained false information and insinuations about his character and behaviour.
      He sought restitution in the form of a claim for EUR 20,000 against the four journalists and the publishing house. The court dismissed the claim as groundless.
      The prosecutor had demanded sanctions for the writer of the article, for the journalist's immediate line superior at the time, and for two managing editors of the newspaper, Antero Mukka and Kimmo Pietinen, who ultimately took the decision to publish the article.
      All the accused had denied any wrongdoing.
     
The court ruling was based on witness testimony heard during the trial. Several witnesses had told the court of unsuitable behaviour by Rajala at public events that he attended through his position as a Member of Parliament.
      The District Court found that the content of the Helsingin Sanomat article did not clearly exceed the bounds of what is acceptable, nor did it constitute a libel on Rajala's name and honour.
      The court voted on the decision, with the district judge and two of the three lay judges voting to acquit. The third lay judge felt that the evidence presented did not allow for the conclusion to be drawn that Rajala had behaved in Parliament in a sexually harassing fashion.     
     
Helsingin Sanomat's editor-in-chief Mikael Pentikäinen expressed his satisfaction at the outcome, noting that it was the anticipated result and was good for freedom of speech.
      The original article had named Rajala and six other MPs, who were alleged to have behaved improperly towards women in Parliament.
      Rajala was the only one of the named parliamentarians who demanded penal sanctions from the journalists concerned in the police enquiries that ensued.
      Five of the MPs named did complain to the Council for Mass Media in Finland (JSN), an organisation which evaluates complaints of lapses in journalistic practice, and the Council issued a reprimand to Helsingin Sanomat over the content of the article in March 2008.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Study finds extensive sexual harassment in Parliament (25.1.2008)
  Witnesses confirm reports of harassment by former MP (12.5.2011)
  HS journalists defend themselves against libel allegations (11.5.2011)
  HS reprimanded by media ethics watchdog over sexual harassment story (20.3.2008)

See also:
  Sexist wannabe alpha-male, MP (27.1.2008)

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