Fiches Belges: Finland

Is this measure possible in your Member State under International Judicial Cooperation?

Yes. Letters and other postal shipments in the possession of the service provider intended for, or sent by, a suspect may be seized with respect to certain offences, provided that those shipments could be subject to seizure from the suspect. An object or a document may be seized upon request of a foreign state if they may serve as evidence in a criminal case there, or if they have been taken from someone through an offence. An object may also be seized if it has been confiscated or is likely to be confiscated by a criminal court of a foreign state. Restrictions on account of legal privilege and confidentiality apply.

International legal framework applicable for this measure in your Member State

MLA 2000

* receive the request/decision for judicial cooperation

National Bureau of Investigation

* execute/recognise the measure (if other than the receiving authority)

Before the case is pending in court: the court at the request of an investigator-in-charge or a prosecutor. When the case is pending in court: the court at the request of a prosecutor. Provisional measure: the investigator-in-charge or prosecutor. A provisional measure becomes void if a request has not been submitted to the court within a week.

Accepted languages for the request/decision

N/A

Deadlines for the execution of the request/decision (where applicable)

N/A

a. Special requirements

N/A

b. Other useful information

A postal shipment may be ordered stopped at the post office until the measure is executed. The order covers a specified period of time and may not exceed a month. A seizure shall be rescinded as soon as it is no longer necessary. If the contents of the postal shipment may be communicated in full or in part to the recipient without hampering the investigation, a copy or extract thereof has to be sent to him without delay. The police have a right to obtain information on postal addresses from postal service providers.