The District Court of Päijänne Tavastia ruled on Wednesday that the Cannonball Motorcycle Club, widely regarded as a criminal gang, was banned in practice.
In the same decision, the court also banned the group’s branch office, Squad 32.
The prosecutor demanded the closure of the club because it violated the country’s association laws.
Several other judicial authorities, including the Supreme Court, have described the gang as an organized criminal group.
Prosecutors said the group’s main activity was outside the law and that they considered Cannonball MC a military organized criminal organization.
In its decision, the district court said Cannonball and Squad 32 had a chain of command whose members are expected to carry out the orders of their superiors. The court said the gangs are organized in a way reminiscent of a military organization.
Prosecutors also asked for the group to be suspended until the court considers its final decision. However, the court dismissed the prosecutors’ claim for temporary closure.
Representatives of the motorcycle gang have denied all abuses.
However, the decision of the district court on Wednesday is not final, as the accused can appeal the verdict.
In March, the Päijänne Tavastia District Court sentenced the director of Cannonball to a maximum of 13 years in prison. Esko Eklund, after convicting him of three aggravated drug offenses, a firearms offense and a felony firearms offense.
According to the preliminary investigation, Eklund used a net handle "human animal."
At the beginning of last year, the District Court of Eastern Uusimaa officially banned United Brotherhood (UB) and its subsidiary Bad Union.
Source: The Nordic Page