Finnish prosecutors have charged seven people over suspected unlawful practices at the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service, known as Supo, following an investigation into the use of intelligence powers and classified information.
Deputy Prosecutor General Jukka Rappe brought the latest charges on 21 September, the National Prosecution Authority said. The case concerns suspected abuse of public office, breaches of official duties and disclosure of security secrets. All suspects have denied wrongdoing.
Among those charged is former Supo director Antti Pelttari, who now serves as secretary general of Parliament but has been suspended from that post since summer 2025. Pelttari faces charges of disclosure of a security secret and abuse of public office. He had already been charged earlier with breach of official duty over his time at Supo.
The prosecution authority said the wider case examined whether Supo broke rules governing police powers, intelligence methods and the handling of classified information.
Investigators had suspected 10 people of offences. Prosecutors brought charges against seven and issued 10 decisions not to prosecute concerning allegations involving nine people. The case will be heard by Helsinki District Court at a date set by the court.
The investigation is the largest criminal case involving Supo to date. According to Helsingin Sanomat, one part of the case concerns the use of retired former intelligence officers in counterintelligence operations linked to efforts to identify Russian espionage activity.
Yle has also reported that Supo’s counterintelligence unit used retired former employees for years as part of source operations. Prosecutors previously said the investigation found grounds to suspect that civilians had gained access to classified material and handled it without supervision.
The prosecution authority said that one civilian device used in the activity was hacked, leading to classified information being exposed to an outside party. Investigators also examined whether Supo complied with rules governing covert intelligence methods and civilian intelligence.
HS reported that several former senior Supo officials have been charged in connection with alleged disclosure of security secrets, including former counterintelligence chief Pertti Haaksluoto, former counterterrorism chief Lasse Anttila and former deputy director Seppo Ruotsalainen.
The newspaper also reported that investigators examined whether retired officers were used in ways that bypassed legal safeguards, including questions over access to surveillance locations, intelligence systems and classified material.
Separate branches of the case concern other suspected abuses of intelligence powers. Earlier charges include allegations that Supo entered a residence and copied documents and device contents without court authorisation, and that misleading or incorrect information was provided to a court in applications concerning technical surveillance and telecommunications monitoring.
The charges and most of the pre-trial investigation material will become public when the case reaches court, subject to secrecy rules and any restrictions imposed by Helsinki District Court.
HT
