Finnish Jehovah Witness

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Charge:	Draft Evasion (including Failure to Register and Failure to report for induction)
Sentence:	6 months
Years Imprisoned:	0.47
Year Crime:	2009
Year Convicted:	2011
Year Cleared:	2015
U.S. State or Country of Crime:	Finland
County or Region of Crime:
City of Crime:	Parola
Result:	Judicially Exonerated
Summary of Case:	"A Jehovah Witness was wrongly convicted of refusing military service in Finland by objecting to serving in the Parola Armoured Brigade in 2009 and 2011 on the religious exemption ground of being a Jehovah’s Witness. The man was twice tried and twice found not guilty of refusing military service, however, the Helsinki Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal and he served his full sentence by being imprisoned for 172 days. In November 2015 Finland's Supreme Court overturned the conviction on the basis the defendant was exempt from military service under Finland’s Conscription Act because a Jehovah Witness is exempt if he or she can prove being an active member of their religious community. The Court also noted that his case may have breached the double jeopardy principle because he was twice acquitted of the crime."
Conviction Caused By:
Innocence Proved By:	In November 2015 Finland's Supreme Court overturned the conviction on the basis the defendant was exempt from military service under Finland’s Conscription Act because a Jehovah Witness is exempt if he or she can prove being an active member of their religious community. The Court also noted that his case may have breached the double jeopardy principle because he was twice acquitted of the crime.
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Was Perpetrator Identified?
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Sex:	Male
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Information Source 1:	"Man acquitted for refusing military service despite six months in jail, By Staff writer, Yie.fi, February 12, 2015"
Information Location 1:	http://yle.fi/uutiset/man_acquitted_for_refusing_military_service_despite_six_months_in_jail/8449733
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Finnish Jehovah Witness

Charge:

Draft Evasion (including Failure to Register and Failure to report for induction)

Sentence:

6 months

Years Imprisoned:

0.47

Year Crime:

2009

Year Convicted:

2011

Year Cleared:

2015

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Finland

County or Region of Crime:

City of Crime:

Parola

Result:

Judicially Exonerated

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

Information Source 1:

"Man acquitted for refusing military service despite six months in jail, By Staff writer, Yie.fi, February 12, 2015"

Information Location 1:

http://yle.fi/uutiset/man_acquitted_for_refusing_military_service_despite_six_months_in_jail/8449733

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Book About Case:

Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case: