Finland's Kotka City Manager Esa Sirviö has received a 75-day suspended prison sentence and a 5,715 euro fine for aggravated drunk driving and a firearms offense, with a blood alcohol level measured at approximately 2.2 promille. The Kainuu District Court convicted the 56-year-old public official on Monday for crimes committed in Sotkamo on August 30, 2025, ending a case that has cast a long shadow over one of Finland's key port city administrations. Sirviö admitted to driving dozens of kilometers while severely intoxicated and transporting an unsecured shotgun in the back of his car without a permit, leading to his arrest by police.
Historic Conviction for Senior Official
The court's decision marks a rare instance where a sitting Finnish city manager, a top municipal leader, has been convicted of such serious charges. The sentence comprises a 75-day suspended jail term alongside 45 day-fines, calculated based on his income, which total 5,715 euros. Prosecutor evidence showed Sirviö drove a personal car that Saturday night with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.95 milligrams per liter, corresponding to a blood alcohol level around 2.2 promille, far exceeding the legal limit of 0.5 promille for aggravated driving under the influence. The police discovered the illegally transported shotgun during the traffic stop, noting it was in the rear of the vehicle without a protective case and not stored in a secured compartment as required by Finnish firearms law.
A Dangerous Drive in Kainuu
The incident occurred in the municipality of Sotkamo, located in the Kainuu region, hundreds of kilometers north of Sirviö's administrative base in the coastal city of Kotka. The court documents state he drove "dozens of kilometers" while intoxicated, though the precise route and destination were not detailed in the public verdict. This geographical distance from his official duties became a point of public discussion following the charges. The combination of extreme intoxication and the unlawful transport of a firearm significantly elevated the severity of the charges, moving the drunk driving offense into the "aggravated" category under Finnish criminal code, which carries heavier penalties than standard drunk driving.
Court Rejects Mitigating Factors
During the court proceedings, Esa Sirviö fully admitted to acting in accordance with the charges. He asked the district court to consider his health status at the time of the offense, his previously clean criminal record, the negative publicity he has received, and a formal warning from his employer as mitigating factors when determining his punishment. The Kainuu District Court, however, did not reduce the sentence based on these arguments, delivering a standard verdict for the offenses committed. This judicial decision underscores the principle of equality before the law, a cornerstone of the Finnish constitutional legal system, which applies equally to public officials and private citizens.
City's Response and Health Leave
Following the drunk driving incident last autumn, the City of Kotka issued a statement in September disclosing Sirviö's illness and subsequent sick leave. In the city's press release, Sirviö himself stated that his health issues resulted from several factors, with the greatest being insufficient attention to his own well-being, endurance, and recovery. He linked this to burnout and related symptoms and diagnoses. He took sick leave in the fall but has since returned to his duties as city manager. The City of Kotka has not released any new statement regarding the conviction, and it remains unclear if the municipal council will take any disciplinary action following the court's final ruling. The city manager is appointed by the city council, and such a conviction typically triggers an evaluation of their fitness for office under the Finnish Local Government Act.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The conviction for aggravated drunk driving and a firearms offense carries significant legal and professional consequences beyond the immediate sentence. A suspended prison sentence is recorded in the criminal register, and the firearms offense may impact Sirviö's right to possess weapons in the future. Politically, the case places considerable pressure on Kotka's city council, which must now assess the situation. City managers hold the highest administrative office in a municipality, responsible for all municipal operations and a large workforce. Trust and public confidence are paramount, and a conviction for serious criminal acts can undermine that authority. No other Finnish city manager in recent memory has been convicted of a crime while in office, setting a difficult precedent for Kotka's political leadership to navigate.
Questions of Political Survival
Esa Sirviö's return to work prior to the verdict now enters a new phase with the conviction public. The core question for Kotka's political groups is whether they maintain confidence in his leadership. The court has established he broke the law in a severe manner, endangering public safety. Finnish municipal law provides mechanisms for the council to address the situation, which could range from a vote of confidence to initiating dismissal procedures, though these are complex and require specific legal grounds. The public reaction in Kotka and the stance of local political parties, including the Social Democrats, National Coalition Party, and Finns Party, will be critical in the coming days. The case also serves as a stark reminder of the intense stress and scrutiny faced by senior public officials, though the court affirmed this does not excuse criminal behavior. The final chapter of this story will be written not in the district court, but in the Kotka City Council chamber, where elected officials must weigh legal guilt against administrative capability and public trust.