Police in Helsinki have completed a preliminary investigation into suspicions of fraud and breach of duty against former Finnish Ambassador to Canada, Jari Vilén, and passed the file to prosecutors for consideration of charges.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs submitted a request to Helsinki police in June to investigate expense claims filed by Vilén. The ministry suspected that Vilén's reasons for claiming some expenses did not always meet the requirements, including his claim for his family's relocation allowance.
The ministry believes that Vilén applied for the full family relocation allowance from September 2023 to May 2024 even though his family members did not live full-time with him in the Canadian capital Ottawa.
Finnish media reported that the ministry is seeking to recover nearly 37,000 euros from Vilén.
In a post on Facebook during the summer, Vilén said he had offered the ministry a means of paying back the money and intended to refund the full amount.
Written warning for sexual harassment
Vilén received a written warning from the foreign ministry in May over inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment.
In a press release published at the time, the ministry said that Vilén had not "conducted himself in a manner befitting his status and duties as a public official", adding that his behaviour met the definitions of inappropriate conduct, harassment and sexual harassment.
However, the statement noted that Vilén remains at the ministry, as the threshold for dismissing him has not yet been reached.
Vilén served as ambassador in Ottawa until the end of June, when he was removed from the position by President Alexander Stubb at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP). He was subsequently transferred back to Helsinki and given other duties.
