According to Ferlinc, who was the prosecutor in the Patria bribery case in Slovenia, the Slovenian State Prosecutor’s Office believes that Wolfgang Riedl, who was sentenced to three years in jail by an Austrian court, acted on his own authority and made his own decisions about the money. Ferlinc added that the Finnish verdict has no bearing on the cases in Austria and Slovenia.

Finnish prosecutor Jukka Rappe had documents that Ferlinc says suggest that Riedl and the Finnish Patria reps acted in concert, but the prosecutor ultimately failed to prove that bribes have been paid. However, Ferlinc stressed that this had no impact on the cases in Austria and Slovenia. Ferlinc said he did not want to pass judgment on the verdict of the Finnish court, but he added: “I do have my opinion on the issue.”

Finnish court cites lack of evidence against accused
The Turku Court of Appeal acquitted the four top Patria reps of bribing Slovenian officials in connection with the sale of armored vehicles to Slovenia. The court said it could not be proven that fees paid by the Patria representatives were bribes.

G. C., A. Č.; translated by D. V.