Prosecutors drop charges in case of family protection costing millions amid honor violence threats

Prosecutors have decided not to press charges against officials and a security company in a case where a family was allegedly provided protection costing millions of euros amid threats of honor violence. The Central Uusimaa wellbeing services county's employees were suspected of illegal procurement of protection for an Iraqi family.

The situation arose after the mother reported severe violence and threats from her husband, initiating divorce proceedings in the summer of 2021. Multiple violence reports were filed, including one by an organization assisting victims of human trafficking, which stated the mother faced continuous and serious threats.

Despite the wellbeing services county seeking police cooperation, the police remained reticent. Social workers and child protection services ultimately hired private security firm Securitas to protect the family. The family father and his associates reportedly pursued the family relentlessly, regardless of their location, including safe houses.

However, the police's own threat assessment considered the risk to the mother to be low. Subsequently, the Eastern Uusimaa police launched criminal investigations into officials for abuse of power and a Securitas security manager for unlawful detention and fraud. Prosecutors later determined that the father was aware of the surveillance, and the lack of violent incidents was likely due to the security's effectiveness.

In the latest decisions, prosecutors also declined to charge the officials. They were suspected of exceeding their authority in procuring security services, while supervisors were suspected of neglecting their oversight duties. Of the 14 officials questioned, 12 received no-charge decisions due to insufficient evidence. Two officials faced minor charges, but prosecutors acknowledged the family's life could have been in danger. The costs were to be reimbursed by the human trafficking victim support system, indicating the actions were not reckless. The investigation had suspected damages exceeding two million euros to the wellbeing services county and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, and nearly 400,000 euros to the city of Raasepori.

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The mother has been subjected to severe violence and the threat of protection is continuous and serious, according to social services and child protection.