A Finnish court has dismissed all charges in a legal case covering alleged bribery in the sale of Patria 8x8 Armoured Modular Vehicles (AMVs) to Slovenia.
Five individuals, including the company's former CEO Jorma Wiitakorpi, had been charged with bribery related offences stemming from Slovenia's 2006 decision to order 135 AMVs from Patria and local partner Rotis Plus, while prosecutors were seeking to impose a corporate fine on Patria. All charges have now been dismissed by the District Court of Kanta-Häme.
Speaking following the decision to dismiss the charges, Patria general council Sirpa-Helena Sormunen stated: "The District Court's decision was expected. We consider the decision justified, both judicially and in light of the evidence."
Slovenia eventually curtailed its order for the AMVs, known as Srednji Kolesno Oklepno Vozilo (SKOV) in Slovenian service, to just 30 vehicles in September 2012.
Allegations of corruption have long surrounded the Slovenian AMV order. In April 2011 Slovenia's former defence minister, Karl Erjavec, and former Army Chief of General Staff Albin Gutman were both acquitted of bribery charges, although the former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa is currently appealing his conviction in June 2013 of soliciting bribes for the contract.
