Onni Sarmaste, the man who embarrassed the Finnish government by selling to the National Emergency Supply Center (Huoltovarmuuskeskus) useless medical supplies to fight the coronavirus in hospitals, has been arrested by the police.
The National Bureau of Investigation (Keskusrikospoliisi) reported today about several "seizures and arrests" made in connection with the trash-masks scandal.
According to police information, around 2.7 million euros worth funds have been frozen and "one suspect in the case" has been arrested. The National Broadcasting Company (Yle) confirmed later that the man arrested is Onni Sarmaste.
The businessman will surely have to wait some time before getting back on the two luxury cars that he bought with part of the money from the masks. "In addition to the frozen funds, the police have seized two valuables from the crime suspect," the police said.
A home search
Police conducted a home search of Sarmaste's apartment in Espoo before arresting him. After that, Sarmaste was taken into custody. Police also left Sarmaste's Bentley in front of his home. According to Yle, police officers who made the arrest were dressed in civilian clothes.
Just one hour before being arrested, Sarmaste had talked to Yle and said that all the money in his account had been frozen.
"Thanks to the freezing measures taken last week by the National Bureau of Investigation's Money Laundering Investigation Center, we were able to quickly seize most of the funds suspected of criminal gain," says crime inspector Tomi Taskila from Keskusrikospoliisi.
Preliminary investigation
Sarmaste has claimed that he made a contract with the National Emergency Supply Center and the Government agency knew what kind of products they were buying.
According to the police, the preliminary investigation will examine the content of the agreements concluded between the agency and the suppliers and whether the supply corresponded to the content of these agreements. However, the police have already said the type of crime they suspect:
"Currently, (suspected) criminal offenses in the preliminary investigation include gross fraud and gross money laundering. The investigation will continue with interrogations and by gathering other evidence," inspector Taskila says.
The National Bureau of Investigation has worked in this case closely with the West-Uusimaa Police Department.
