Former CEO sentenced to prison for human trafficking in Finland

The Lapland District Court has sentenced Jukka Kristo, the former CEO of berry company Polarica Marjahankinta, to two years and six months of strict imprisonment for human trafficking. His Thai business partner received a nine-month sentence for their role in 78 human trafficking offenses.

The court found that Kristo and his partner recruited Thai berry pickers to Finland in 2022. The pickers were allegedly subjected to forced labor and inhumane conditions, including receiving misleading information about earnings and living conditions. Prosecutors described the camp conditions as degrading, with food often being raw, spoiled, or inedible.

Kristo and his partner denied the charges. The court also ordered Polarica Marjahankinta to pay around 400,000 euros for the assistants' fees and approximately 500,000 euros in compensation for financial losses and emotional distress to the victims, with late interest. The company was fined 150,000 euros, and Kristo was banned from business activities for five years.

Polarica Marjahankinta was also fined 150,000 euros. Kristo faces a five-year ban from business operations. The case highlights the harsh realities faced by migrant workers and the legal consequences for those involved in human trafficking.