In one of biggest cases stemming from the campaign finance scandal, Centre Party MP Antti Kaikkonen and Slot Machine Association head Jukka Vihriälä face jail terms if convicted.
In his evidence, Matti Vanhanen said the board of the Youth Foundation had never discussed the subject of campaign funding. He added such discussions were unnecessary as all members were aware of the foundation’s rules.
Vanhanen said the Youth Foundation, founded 50 years ago to build homes for the young, was established primarily to support the Centre Party. In his view, the foundation’s rules permitted campaign funding.
Vanhanen served as Chairman of the Youth Foundation from 1998 to 2003 and Deputy Chairman from 1981 to 1997. The former Prime Minister is not suspected of any wrong doing and took the stand as a defence witness.
The prosecution claims the Youth Foundation donated under the direction of Centre Party MP Antti Kaikkonen funding of over 90,000 euros for his own campaign and that of other Centre Party MPs including Matti Vanhanen. Prosecutors say this contravened the Foundation’s own rules and laws governing such institutions.
All the eight accused deny the charges.
