A foreign soccer player who played in Finland is imprisoned.
The accused man played in the Veikkausliiga at the beginning of this millennium. PDO
A foreign ex-football player is accused of gross tax fraud in the South Karelia district court.
The accused middle-aged man played in the Veikkausliiga in the early 2000s. He has also played in Finland at lower league levels.
According to the prosecutor, the man has played a central role in the importation, possession and distribution of cigarette cartons illegally brought to Finland. A total of eight people are suspected in the case.
According to the prosecutor, the man has not reported the importation of tobacco to Customs and has thus failed to pay 530,400 euros in tobacco tax. On January 9, the Kymenlaakso district court ordered his assets to be seized as collateral for the equivalent amount.
The time of committing the crimes is marked as 1 August 2022–6 October 2023. The man has been imprisoned since November 13, 2023.
The prosecutor demands an absolute prison sentence for him. The challenge application has started on January 30. The main processing of the case is already underway. The court will give its verdict later.
The ex-football player has previously been convicted in an extensive tobacco and alcohol smuggling ring in Finland.
The matter is being discussed in the District Court of South Karelia. Jussi Eskola