Unlawful practises by immigrant restaurant owners investigaed in Finland

The Finnish police are investigating a wide array of criminality associated with restaurant businesses operated by immigrant families in Finland, media reports said on Monday.

Senior inspector Ari Kouva at the National Bureau of Investigation told national broadcaster Yle that grey economy practises have been widespread, and other suspected crimes were committed as well to ward off competition.

The police are investigating several enterprises involved in aggravated fraud in taxation, discrimination and blackmail.

Kouva described the investigation as challenging as he saw "a different culture." A family owning several pizzerias could not accept competition from another immigrant family in the same area.

"For them it is natural to think that competition should not be allowed in the vicinity, but here in Finland we have freedom of trade and earning," he said and described some of the practises as aggravated blackmail.

For example, a commitment in writing had been demanded from a potential competitor that he would not start a restaurant within three km.

Police investigation has covered enterprises in cities of Oulu, Joensuu and Lappeenranta. Endit