Former CEO of berry company Polarica, Jukka Kristo, and lawyer Reetamari Ylitalo at the Lapland District Court on 19 August 2025. Kristo is accused of aggravated human trafficking. Photo: Jouni Porsanger / Lehtikuva
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The largest human trafficking case in Finnish legal history began on Tuesday at the Lapland District Court in Rovaniemi, with 78 charges of aggravated human trafficking under review.
The case centres on the berry company Polarica Marjahankinta, its former CEO Jukka Kristo, and Thai business associate Kalyakorn “Durian” Phongphit. All three defendants deny the charges.
The accusations relate to the treatment of 78 Thai nationals who worked in Finland’s berry picking sector. Each charge corresponds to an individual plaintiff.
Defence lawyer Kai Kotiranta, representing Polarica, Kristo, and his private business, described the case as unique. “This is exceptional in international terms,” he said. He added that the outcome is likely to have broad implications for Finland’s seasonal berry industry, which relies heavily on foreign workers.
The trial has already faced procedural delays. Initially set for May, the first hearing was postponed after Kristo claimed that the judges were biased. Although the Lapland District Court rejected this view, the presiding judge decided to replace the other judges in the interest of fairness.
In early August, new legal objections emerged. Polarica and Kristo argued that the police investigation had been launched unlawfully, as part of the alleged offences took place in Thailand. They claimed that prior authorisation from the Prosecutor General should have been required. The court dismissed this challenge.
Responding to suggestions that the objections were designed to stall proceedings, Kotiranta rejected the accusation. “It is certainly best for all parties if the matter is handled quickly rather than slowly,” he told Yle. “When it comes to such a serious criminal case, it is important to ensure that the process has been and is appropriate in all respects.”
The case is being closely watched, both for its scale and for its potential effect on labour practices within Finland’s berry sector.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
