Finnish prosecutors are pushing for former CEO of Polarica, Jukka Kristo, and his Thai business partner, Kalyakorn Phongpit, to serve at least five years in prison for human trafficking. The trial, which involves 77 counts of aggravated human trafficking, began in Lapland District Court with both defendants denying all charges.
The prosecutors claim that the Thai berry pickers were subjected to forced labor and degrading conditions during their time in Finland in 2022. This included inadequate living conditions with no proper shower facilities and meals that were subpar, such as boiled chicken legs, salmon heads, and raw liver. The pickers’ passports and return flight tickets were confiscated upon arrival, instilling fear in them to speak up about their situation.
Furthermore, the contracts signed by the Thai workers stated that they would be penalized for any shortfall in berry volumes, resulting in many pickers owing money to the company despite months of work. The prosecution is also seeking the forfeiture of nearly one million euros in criminal proceeds from the defendants.
In a separate case, a senior Finnish civil servant, Olli Sorainen, is set to stand trial in Helsinki for accepting a bribe and breaching official duties. It is alleged that Sorainen was aware of the Thai pickers’ complaints as early as 2020, yet no action was taken to address the issue.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, the Department of Special Investigation is continuing its probe into high-ranking officials and former ministers who allegedly demanded 36 million baht from a job broker to approve sending Thai workers to Finland. As a result of the mistreatment of Thai workers, Thailand halted the travel of pickers to Finland until new terms were negotiated.
Recently, an agreement was reached between the two countries, allowing 900 Thai laborers to be sent to Finland for the berry harvest season. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced plans to visit Finland to ensure the well-being and safety of the workers and to promote future opportunities for Thai workers in the country. This bilateral cooperation aims to protect the welfare of workers and encourage more to work in Finland in the future.