Prosecutor seeks at least three years in prison for Jari-Matti Latvala

The first day of Jari-Matti Latvala’s tax trial produced a severe demand from prosecutors: at least three years in prison for aggravated tax fraud.

The indictment alleges that Latvala avoided at least €3.7 million in taxes between 2014 and 2017. Prosecutors say his official residence in Monaco was an artificial arrangement intended, at least partly, to avoid paying taxes in Finland. They maintain that he actually lived in Finland no later than the beginning of 2014.

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That is a harsh demand.

Latvala has paid the taxes assessed against him. Prosecutors said they took that payment into account in his favor when making their sentencing request. Latvala rejected the allegations after Monday’s hearing. “I do not believe I have done anything wrong,” he said.

His lawyer, Pekka Tuunainen, called the prison request unexpectedly harsh. The defense argues that Finland’s Tax Administration should have filed a criminal complaint by Dec. 31, 2021, rather than on Feb. 2, 2022. On that basis, it says the prosecution should be dismissed before the court assesses guilt.

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I do not believe I have done anything wrong.

The defense also disputes the classification of the alleged conduct as aggravated tax fraud. Tuunainen argues that it could amount to ordinary tax fraud at most, which would mean the case had already expired under the statute of limitations. He said the defense would present evidence aimed at challenging both the prosecution’s procedural case and its claims about Latvala’s intent.

Prosecutors began by presenting written evidence about where Latvala actually lived from 2014 to 2018, emphasizing his strong ties to Finland. The indictment says he spent only eight days in Monaco in 2014, eight days in 2015 and four days in 2016. Latvala, who also works as Toyota’s team manager, said the outcome could affect his employment and career, calling that prospect the most frightening aspect of the case.

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This could affect my working life and my career. That is the most frightening thing here.