Chief state prosecutor appears in court as suspect

Matti Nissinen, the Chief State Prosecutor of Finland, appeared in front of the Finnish Supreme Court on Wednesday, charged of "neglect of duties on purpose".

The charge was based on Nissinen's alleged participation in purchasing management training services developed by his brother.

The prosecutor, Assistant Chancellor of Justice Kimmo Hakonen, demanded the Chief Prosecutor to be fined. Prosecution does not demand Nissinen to be dismissed, however.

Nissinen admitted in court he had acted out of negligence but not on purpose. "This has been to me a professional, social and economic catastrophe," Nissinen told the court.

Employees of the prosecution system have told local media Nissinen had been warned against taking part in the decision. Nissinen said in court he had not understood he was biased in the situation.

Purchases from his brother had started in 2007 when Nissinen worked in the Eastern Finland Prosecution Office and had continued after became the Chief Prosecutor of Finland.

The police investigation of the case began last March. Nissinen then asked for temporary leave of absence. The Ministry of Justice suspended him in August.

The court is expected to make a decision on the case by the end of this year.