Oulu District Court on Thursday sentenced nine men and one woman, aged 19 to 37, following five days of hearings held under tight security in June.

The longest prison term, two years and four months, was slapped on a 25-year-old man for attempted extortion, home invasion and drug offences. A 23-year-old trial member was sent off for two years and two months.

The oldest defendant, an Oulu man, was sentenced to 16 months behind bars for attempted extortion and making threats as well as firearms violations.

Weapons confiscated

Other defendants received shorter sentences and suspended sentences. Some were also forced to forfeit items used in the crimes such as crowbars, a gun, an axe, a baseball bat and a billyclub.

The court declared that the convicts had sought to collect imaginary debts from victims, trying to frighten them with the gang’s violent reputation. The convicts include the former leader of the Northern Finnish branch of the national criminal organisation.

The crimes took place in late 2011 and early 2012.