Finnish Parliament member Timo Vornanen has filed a formal request for investigation regarding missing surveillance footage. He claims 31 minutes of crucial video evidence has disappeared from a Helsinki restaurant's security system.
The incident occurred last April at Bar Ihku in central Helsinki. Vornanen became involved in a dispute with another person. The situation escalated, and Vornanen fired a shot into the ground outside the establishment.
Vornanen now faces multiple criminal charges including endangerment, firearms offenses, assault, and two counts of illegal threats. He denies all allegations. His trial is scheduled to begin in November.
According to Vornanen, the missing footage would show his conversation with the other person involved. He states the discussion took place at the restaurant's bar counter. During this interaction, Vornanen claims he gave the person his business card and received threats.
The parliament member discovered the gap in footage when reviewing materials for his defense. The restaurant's surveillance system recorded for 4.5 hours total, but precisely 31 minutes covering the key incident are missing.
Vornanen suggests the footage disappeared early in the investigation. It may have been lost from either police custody or the restaurant's possession.
Vornanen previously belonged to the Finns Party parliamentary group but was forced to resign. He now operates his own one-member group in Parliament.
The timing raises questions about evidence preservation in politically sensitive cases. With criminal proceedings approaching, the missing footage could significantly impact the trial's outcome.
Police have confirmed receiving Vornanen's investigation request. They are reviewing the matter but have not provided further comments on the case.