Prosecutors are demanding a minimum of five years' imprisonment for Jukka Kristo, the former CEO of berry company Polarica, for 77 counts of aggravated human trafficking charges.
An extensive human trafficking trial began at Lapland District Court on Monday.
Prosecutors are also demanding a minimum five-year prison sentence for Kristo's Thai business partner, Kalyakorn Phongpit.
Both have denied any guilt, but prosecutors say the pair subjected Thai berry pickers to forced labour and other degrading conditions in Finland in 2022, when a record number of 4,000 Thai wild berry pickers arrived in the country to work.
The degrading conditions included substandard accommodation that sometimes lacked shower facilities. Meals often consisted of boiled chicken legs, salmon heads and raw liver.
"When people kept eating these salmon heads, they started vomiting and experienced other symptoms," one Thai picker told the police during an interview. Pickers were charged 500-600 euros for their meals during the season.
Staff also collected the pickers' passports and return flight tickets upon their arrival in Finland. Pickers told investigators they were fearful of retribution if they complained about the conditions.
Alleged blacklist threats
"We were told that if someone complained about the boss, that person would be blacklisted and not be able to pick berries the following year," one picker told police.
Contracts signed by the Thai pickers stipulated that they would be penalised for any shortfalls in berry volumes, according to the prosecution. Despite working for several months, many pickers still ended up owing money to the berry company. According to the pickers, they often left camp at 3am and did not return until midnight.
According to one picker interviewed by the police, they had to first collect berries worth at least 4,300 euros, after which the debt incurred for travel, accommodation and other expenses would be settled.
"Only then would we start earning money," the picker explained.
Police material also showed that incorrect scales were intentionally used for weighing the berries — in the company's favour.
According to the prosecutor, it is likely that the number of charges brought against the two will still grow as the criminal investigation concerning all potential victims is not yet complete.
In addition to jail time, the prosecution is also seeking the forfeiture of nearly one million euros in criminal proceeds from the two defendants.
The prosecutor claims that the pickers were misled about the conditions they would face in Finland, as they were not truthfully informed in Thailand about what to expect.
This is the second berry picker-linked human trafficking case to reach Lapland District Court. In May, the court staged a preliminary session regarding the charges against Vernu Vasunta, CEO of berry firm Kiantama. He also denied committing any crimes.
Finnish officials knew about problems
Olli Sorainen, a senior ministerial adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, will meanwhile come before Helsinki District Court in a few weeks, to face charges of allegedly accepting a bribe and breach of official duties. Helsingin Sanomat has reported that Kristo from Polarica lent him a 6,000-euro violin.
Prosecutors allege that Sorainen, whose remit included preparing laws and permits for the berry industry, was aware of Thai pickers' concerns regarding berry giants Kiantama and Polarica as early as the beginning of 2020.
Finnish officials, however, did not intervene in the companies' operations nor stop them from recruiting more pickers from Thailand.
Several high-ranking officials and two former government ministers in Thailand are also facing corruption charges regarding the case.
The treatment of Thai pickers in Finland has led Thailand to stop issuing exit visas for pickers to travel to Finland.
Yle News' All Points North podcast has probed the allegations of forced labour and human trafficking in Finland's berry industry.
Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
