Director General of Kela, Lasse Lehtonen, is in hospital in Brussels. Photo: Roni Rekomaa / Lehtikuva
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Lasse Lehtonen, Director General of Finland’s Social Insurance Institution (Kela), is receiving medical care in Brussels following an incident at the city’s airport on Friday.
Kela confirmed in a statement that Lehtonen was admitted to hospital due to “physical health issues”. His return to Finland is expected in the near future, subject to medical advice.
According to Kela, his next of kin reported that he is recovering and will travel home once doctors approve. The agency said it and Lehtonen’s family request privacy during his recovery.
The incident at Brussels Airport took place on Friday morning. Multiple eyewitnesses interviewed by Helsingin Sanomat saw Belgian police escort a disoriented man from gate A45, where a Finnair flight to Helsinki was scheduled for departure at 11.25 local time.
Belgian federal police confirmed that a Finnish national was prevented from boarding a flight after failing to present a boarding pass and showing signs of confusion. The police described the interaction as brief and peaceful and said the individual was directed to airport medical services.
Kela did not directly confirm the identity of the individual involved, but multiple eyewitnesses identified Lehtonen at the scene. He was travelling on a work assignment and had originally been expected back in Finland on Thursday. He did not attend a planned evening event where he had been scheduled to host.
The Finnish public was first informed of his condition on Sunday when Kela released a statement. The agency said that his condition does not affect the daily operations or services of Kela. Director Kari-Pekka Mäki-Lohiluoma is acting as his temporary replacement.
The organisation added that Lehtonen had been on sick leave starting Monday of the same week, despite his presence in Brussels on official business.
A person close to Lehtonen told Ilta-Sanomat that they had spoken with a doctor at the airport and confirmed the matter was related to health. According to them, there was no indication of substance use.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
