A group including 16 former security guards accused of unjustified violence and other crimes went on trial at the Eastern Uusimaa District Court in Hyvinkää on Monday.
The 17 defendants stand accused of unjustifiably using violence as well as abusing their authority when they worked for Avarn Security.
The individuals are no longer employed by the Norwegian-owned firm. Sixteen of the defendants worked as security guards.
The trial is scheduled to last 22 days.
The first suspected cases of on-the-job crimes committed by guards came to light at the end of last year.
According to the prosecutor, the case deals with more than 20 separate situations involving violence. The charges filed include aggravated assault, assault and illegal threats.
The prosecutor has called for the defendants to serve varying sentences, including prison terms, suspended prison terms as well as paying compensation to victims.
According to police, some of the guards threatened and abused victims, using violence including kicking, punching and hitting them with expandable batons.
A police preliminary investigation found that the guards' violence was mainly directed towards victims in weak positions, including intoxicated and otherwise defenceless individuals, as well as members of minority groups.
The suspected violent acts took place while the security guards were on-duty, working for Avarn-managed areas on the capital region's railway system, from May to December 2022.
According to the police, the security guards blatantly exceeded their authority and humiliated their victims. Some of the violent incidents were recorded on video and shared among other security guards, police said.
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