Accused Of 'Leaking' National Defense Secrets, Three Finnish Journalists Tried

Illustration. (Unsplash/Mark Winkler)

JAKARTA - Three journalists from Finland's biggest daily went on trial on Thursday on charges of publishing classified defense intelligence, facing 18 months of probation if found guilty.

Prosecutors claimed two Helsingin Sanomat journalists and their former editor disclosed national defense secrets in a report published in 2017.

The report, titled "Finland's most secret place", reveals the location and menial duties of the defense forces' intelligence unit, at a time when parliament is debating whether to expand its powers to monitor personal data on digital networks.

According to the prosecutor, the article contains dangerous information whose publication is contrary to the law.

This is in the spotlight, because Finland is famous for its freedom of the press and such cases have never happened before.

Helsingin Sanomat Editor-in-Chief Kaius Niemi said journalists had not violated the law.

"We can show for every published sentence that the information can be found on the internet or in books prior to the publication of our article. Public information cannot be classified," he told Reuters, as quoted Aug. 26.

The three journalists denied any wrongdoing.

Finland has for years been one of the top countries in the global press freedom rankings published annually by Reporters Without Borders.

But, it has slipped to fifth place this year, partly because of a court case, the Finnish branch of the association of journalists said.

Meanwhile, reporters were not present at the preparatory session at the Helsinki district court on Thursday.

Separately, Hanne Aho, chairman of the Union of Finnish Journalists, said the case was the first.

"It is extraordinary that Finnish journalists are accused of high treason," he told Reuters.

To note, under Finnish law, it is customary to name defendants in criminal cases, only if they are found guilty.