Convicted Extortionist Aleksanteri Kivimäki Released Pending Appeal
Aleksanteri Kivimäki, convicted of attempting industrial-scale extortion against clients of the Vastaamo therapists, has been released from custody pending appeal. The decision comes from the Helsinki Court of Appeal, despite his previous conviction and sentence of six years and three months.
Kivimäki's release is due to his long pretrial detention. He has been in custody since 2023, following his arrest in France and extradition to Finland. The court's decision does not overturn his previous conviction or sentence. The trial is ongoing, with a ruling expected later this year.
The investigation against Kivimäki found strong evidence linking him to the hack. Forensic connections were discovered between server logs, bitcoin transactions, and personal materials. Despite this, Kivimäki is presumed innocent while appealing his conviction, in accordance with Finnish law.
The Vastaamo hack took place in 2018, with over 24,000 people receiving extortion attempts after the breach became public in 2020. Many of the victims were children or receiving treatment for severe trauma, causing significant distress and shaking Finnish society.
Kivimäki's release, pending appeal, raises questions about the ongoing trial and the potential impact on the victims. The Helsinki Court of Appeal's final ruling, expected later this year, will provide further clarity on the case.
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