RoPS’s ex-club boss faces trial
The former boss of Rovaniemi Football Club is accused of financial crime.
A criminal case related to the Rovaniemi Football Club has been filed with the Lapland District Court.
In the summons filed on Wednesday, one person is suspected of aggravated embezzlement and payment instrument fraud.
The accused person is Risto Niva, who worked as the chairman of RoPS for 17 years. RoPS made a request for an investigation into Niva more than two years ago.
In June 2023, the preliminary investigation moved to consideration of charges. After almost two years of waiting, the case was transferred to the District Court.
The matter relates to the use of funds by Rovaniemi Palloseura ry and its marketing company Blue Idea oy from December 2019 to the end of 2022.
Niva has denied any wrongdoing.
District Prosecutor Jane Iisakka could not comment on the large sums involved in the suspected embezzlement and payment instrument fraud.
According to Iisakka, the completion of the indictment proceeded according to the normal schedule. However, the matter was not exceptionally laborious considering the description of the crime.
