A young crime boss from Porvoo has vanished after receiving lengthy prison sentences for attempted murder and serious drug crimes. Carl Boris Benjamin Björkendahl, 23, disappeared before authorities could detain him following his convictions.
Special prosecutor Perttu Könönen confirmed the disappearance to media outlets. Könönen previously served as prosecutor in the Lassi shooting case where Björkendahl received his conviction. Police have verified the crime boss cannot be located.
Könönen first heard rumors about Björkendahl's disappearance in late summer. He expressed disbelief that someone with two serious convictions could remain free. The situation highlights growing concerns about Finland's pretrial detention system.
In late May, Helsinki District Court sentenced Björkendahl to 10 years in prison for attempted murder in the Lassi shooting incident. The court identified him as the organizer of the attack. Just weeks earlier, however, the Eastern Uusimaa District Court had released him while processing separate drug crime allegations.
Könönen stated he expected the Eastern Uusimaa court would order Björkendahl detained before sentencing. The release came as a complete surprise to prosecutors. Björkendahl ultimately received a five-year prison sentence in July for drug crimes involving organized criminal group activities.
Finland's Supreme Court recently changed pretrial detention requirements. The new precedent states that crime severity alone no longer justifies detention in district courts. Judges must now identify specific risks like flight danger or continued criminal activity.
Judge Marja Terttu Mälkki, who made the release decision, told media the court had no alternative but to free Björkendahl. His previous behavior showed no attempts to evade investigation or court proceedings. The decision considered Björkendahl's Finnish citizenship and established residence in Finland.
Könönen believes the court should have considered both flight risk and potential continued criminal activity. He insists Björkendahl belongs in prison given his convictions and organized crime connections.
Similar disappearances occur too frequently in Finland according to Könönen. He identifies a systemic problem where individuals facing long sentences get released pretrial. Many choose to disappear when given the opportunity.
Björkendahl now has an arrest warrant issued against him. Police lack information about his current location. Könönen suspects he has likely left the country given the circumstances.
The Lassi shooting case continues in the Court of Appeal next year. Prosecutors can request Björkendahl be detained in absentia during this period. They could also pursue a European arrest warrant if evidence confirms his location abroad.
These measures offer limited help if Björkendahl has traveled outside Europe. His ability to remain abroad depends largely on personal resources and connections. Some fugitives manage extended stays overseas while others eventually return when funds diminish.
This case exposes genuine flaws in Finland's judicial balancing act between defendant rights and public safety. The system now leans heavily toward presumption of innocence, sometimes at the expense of practical security concerns. When dangerous individuals facing substantial sentences walk free, the consequences can be permanent disappearances that undermine justice entirely.
Finland's approach contrasts with neighboring Sweden and Norway where pretrial detention practices remain more restrictive for serious organized crime suspects. The Nordic countries share similar legal traditions but increasingly diverge on detention policies for high-risk defendants.