Criminal complaint for assault filed during Amirkhani trial – police investigating
Lawyer Kari Uoti pushed an Ilta-Sanomat photographer in the courtroom. Police are conducting a preliminary inquiry into the alleged assault.
Kari Uoti pushed photographer in courtroom – police launches preliminary inquiry
A criminal complaint has been filed with police for alleged assault in connection with an incident that occurred last Thursday during Makwan Amirkhani's trial. Mtvuutiset.fi reports that police are currently conducting a preliminary inquiry to determine whether there are grounds to launch a formal investigation.
The incident occurred before the session began when Amirkhani's assistant Kari Uoti pushed Ilta-Sanomat photographer Ivan Bessedini and swore at him.
– Go to hell out of here, Uoti said first. – Get away kicking my bloody leg, Uoti continued.
Later, Uoti commented on the situation to the media from his own perspective.
– There was one photographer kicking this operated leg of mine. I told him to move aside, Uoti stated.
Bessedini told Ilta-Sanomat that he had been working in his usual manner alongside other journalists and photographers when he first felt something on the left side of his lower back. Uoti was sitting behind the photographer. After turning around, Bessedini felt a second, stronger push on his back, and the force of it nearly caused him to fall, forcing him to grab a table to remain standing.
According to Bessedini, he never stepped on Uoti's foot at any point and had no other physical or verbal contact with the assistant.
Journalists and a photographer from MTV News who were present confirmed seeing Uoti push the photographer, who stumbled towards Mira Luoto's team. MTV's photographer Santtu Suvitaival described the situation as truly exceptional.
Crime commissioner Katja Saukoniemi assessed the length of the preliminary inquiry to MTV:
– I don't think it will take very long. Speaking in general terms, we are gathering and requesting material. A decision will be made as soon as we are able to, Saukoniemi said.
In Amirkhani's trial, the mixed martial artist is accused of coercing musician Mira Luoto into a sexual act. The prosecutor is seeking approximately one and a half years of conditional imprisonment. Amirkhani denies the crime and demands that the charges be dismissed. The trial is scheduled to continue on 22 December.
Yle was the first to report on the preliminary inquiry into the trial.
Source: Google News FI — Crime (fi)