Former MP Tony Halme Dies at 47
Former Member of Parliament Tony Halme has died at the age of 47. Police told YLE that no foul play is suspected in his death. Police would not yet confirm the time or cause of death. The late-edition tabloid Iltalehti reported in its online edition that Halme was found dead at home.
Halme, a professional boxer by training, achieved fame on the Finnish version of the Gladiators television franchise.
He was notorious for his outspoken opinions, and served for one term as a Member of Parliament of the populist True Finns party after winning a landslide of personal votes in the Parliamentary elections of 2003. In his campaign, he put a special emphasis on opposition to more immigration.
Later in 2003 he was hospitalised following an incident in which he had fired a pistol in his Helsinki apartment, apparently while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The incident brought him a suspended prison sentence and a fine.
In October last year he was arrested for driving while under the influence of illegal drugs. Charges were still pending in the incident when he died.
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