The foundation is linked to the Social Democratic party, which sold the paintings for some 23,000 euros.
“Giving electoral support is not permitted according to the rules of the Sport Institute Foundation,” said prosecutor Jarmo Hirvonen outside Helsinki District Court on Monday. “The Foundation has purchased artworks for 23,000 euros from the Finnish Social Democratic Party.”
Hirvonen says that the foundation bought sculptures and paintings from the SDP between 2005 and 2007. According to him, some of the artworks remained in storage, while some were hung on the walls at the foundation’s sport institute in Pajulahti.
“The Sport Institute Foundation’s purpose was to support sport, not political operations,” said Hirvonen.
Reminiscent of previous funding scandals
He added that the Foundation’s activities were similar to those conducted by the Youth Foundation, which is linked to the Centre party and has been involved in a similar campaign funding scandal.
The prosecutor claimed that the defendants should have known that supporting election campaigns was against the foundation’s rules. He pointed out that the group of defendants includes several lawyers and former MPs.
Risto Tuominen and Markku Pohjola, both former SDP MPs, have been charged with abusing positions of trust. Pohjola also served as a district judge in the same courthouse where he is now being tried.
Pohjola, like his co-accused, denies the charges. He said outside the court that the foundation had not given electoral support to any individual.
