Finland s incumbent Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen received a suspended prison sentence of five months for misusing power in a graft case at a foundation in 2013. The Finnish justice chancellor claims that Kaikkonen s criminal record does not pose a legal obstacle to him serving in his ministerial post.

Two organisations were involved in the scandal, the Finnish Youth Foundation and the RAY. The Youth Foundation has been close to the Centre Party ever since it was founded in 1961, and its leaders are usually supplied by the party. The organisation aims to offer affordable housing to the youth. RAY is a state-owned association which operated slot machines and oversaw the operation of Finland s sole casino. The incoming revenues were used to fund charities (elderly care, healthcare developments). RAY also supported other social and healthcare organisations, including the Youth Foundation.

Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported in 2009 for the first time that the Youth Foundation, contrary to its own rules, had funded former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who used to be the Foundation s president, with 23,000 euros in his election campaign. The police investigation revealed that the Foundation not only funded Vanhanen but also about thirty Centre Party politicians with a total sum of more than 100,000 euros between 1998 and 2009, including present Defence Minister Antti Kaikkoken.

Current Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen had been a representative of Nyland region and the leader of the Youth Foundation since 2003. The investigation revealed that during Kaikonnen s leadership, the Foundation purchased overpriced paintings, artworks and books several times to support the Centre Party candidates. What s more, Kaikonnen participated in the transactions personally both as a seller and a buyer. The former RAY president was also involved in the case, selling expensive paintings to the Foundation and in exchange, he secured state subsidy to the Youth Foundation.

In the end, the court slapped a five-month suspended prison sentence on Kaikonnnen in 2013. Furthermore, it concluded that his actions caused 78,000 euros worth of damage which Kaikonnen was obliged to pay. RAY s president received an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Responding to the judgment, Kaikkonen said that he was „disappointed and upset”, but he would not resign neither from his MP mandate nor his position in the town council of Tuusula. He did not appeal the court s decision.

After the 2019 elections, Kaikonnen became the Rinne government s defence minister. However, the chancellor of justice has said Kaikkonen s sentencing does not pose a legal obstacle to him serving in his ministerial post.