Retired Finnish Security Police intelligence source worker charged with disclosing classified information
A pensioner continued working as a Supo intelligence source for approximately 12 years – classified information was obtained by a foreign state in a data breach.
Pensioner worked as Supo intelligence source for over a decade, information leaked abroad
According to Hämeen Sanomat, a man who retired from the Finnish Security Police (Supo) in 2012 continued his intelligence work after leaving, right up until 2024 – a total of approximately 12 years. Helsinki District Court charged the man with negligent disclosure of classified information last Friday.
The information is evident from police preliminary investigation reports, which were partially made public on Wednesday. There are nearly 1,800 pages of documents in total, with a significant portion still classified.
Data breach revealed the activity
According to the preliminary investigation report, the man's computer and email account were subject to a data breach, as a result of which information about Supo's operations came into the possession of a foreign state. The section of the report dealing with the matter is almost entirely redacted. In the only sentences left visible, it is stated that "the email account password was (redacted section) known to the attacker". An outside party was suspected of the data breach and espionage.
The man reported his activities to Supo through an open network email account and conducted his intelligence work via his personal mobile phone. He stored the accounts from his sources printed on paper and openly kept them at home. Additionally, documents provided to him by Supo were seized from his home, containing questions to be put to intelligence sources.
Man says he acted under an authorised instruction with official responsibility
In police interrogations, the man stated that Supo had contacted him after his retirement and asked him to continue his intelligence work with persons he had already known beforehand.
– I was told that these people, whom I had already known previously, I would continue with them, as a pensioner, as a civilian, and that it would be lawful activity, the man said in interrogation.
According to the man, he had been emphasised that the measure had been "approved by the Finnish Security Police, with official responsibility", by the then director Antti Pelttari. The agreement was made orally without a written document.
In interrogations, the man admitted that Supo had used him for tasks belonging to the authorities, but added in the organisation's defence that he was never given direct instructions orally or in writing.
– Yes, they did use me. But in their defence I must say that they never gave an instruction orally or on paper to go and ask.
The man said he considered the investigation to be biased and felt he had been left alone to bear the responsibility.
– Here a pensioner is thrown under the bus, he stated, referring to the fact that the director, deputy directors and the counter-espionage director had, according to him, all known about the activity.
The man also stated that Supo never once warned him about information he had sent by email.
– Not a single time was I prohibited from sending. Everything was acceptable and went down like a knife through butter.
Documents kept at home were accessible to all
During the home search, documents were seized from the man's flat containing information about meetings that he had reported to Supo. According to police, the documents had been openly displayed, and at least his wife had had free access to them. The man commented affirmatively on the matter, but stated that he did not believe his wife had read them.
Former Supo director also charged
The former Supo director Antti Pelttari is charged in the same matter with official misconduct and disclosure of classified information. The matter began to unravel in autumn 2023, when Supo referred the case to the intelligence oversight authority for investigation. In early 2024, Supo reported another matter belonging to the same overall case.
The prosecutor's indictment has not yet been made public, so it is not known what punishment the prosecutor is seeking for Pelttari and the retired man. Both deny the charges.
Source: Hämeen Sanomat