FINLAND
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said that it will not launch a preliminary investigation into tobacco firms for selling so-called light cigarettes, brought about by a request by dozens of medical and legal experts. More than 33 medical and legal experts called for a probe into suspected aggravated abuse and even murder by companies marketing the tobacco products as a healthier alternative to regular smokes.
In an NBI statement, the organization said that neither previous case law nor the provisions of the Preliminary Investigation Act justified an investigation.
According to NBI, tobacco firms’ liability for smokers’ illnesses was previously dealt with in several courts, and the final judgments ruled that the tobacco companies were not guilty of gross negligence and were nor strictly liable for the illness of complainants.
NBI also said that the request for an investigation did not specify the individuals suspected of committing the alleged offenses. Based on the request, there was no reason to suspect a crime or crimes and that an investigation would not be launched as a result.