Jari AarnioThe former disgraceful head of the drug unit of the Helsinki police has been released from prison during a supervised probationary period. His lawyer confirmed the move, Riitta Leppiniemi.
Aarnio’s location is monitored with an ankle monitor. During the supervised probationary period, convicts are allowed to move only in certain areas. They must also remain drug-free and comply with other conditions imposed on them.
Aarnio’s murder sentence was overturned on Friday. In December 2020, the Helsinki District Court sentenced him to life imprisonment for murder. In Finland a "lifespan" usually lasts 11-13 years.
The case involved the murder of a Swedish-Turkish man in 2003. Volkan Ünsal, In Helsinki. Unlike the District Court, the Court of Appeal held that Aarnio did not have accurate information about Ünsal’s murder plans or that the victim was in imminent danger. According to the Court of Appeal, Aarnio did not appear to know when, where or how Ünsal was to be killed.
Contrary to the judgment of the District Court, the Court of Appeal also held that Aarnio did not have a special legal obligation under the prosecution to prevent the crime, as required for failure to perform official duties.
In December, the Helsinki Court of Appeal released Aarnio from pre-trial detention for murder, but he remained in prison for previous drug convictions.
In the summer of 2019, Aarnio was sentenced to ten years in prison for importing hashish. He was convicted of, among other things, several serious drug offenses and gross misrepresentation of evidence.