Jansa claims that YLE committed libel by reporting that he had received bribes.
In the autumn of 2008, YLE’s investigative journalism programme MOT aired an episode in which it reported that the Finnish defence contractor Patria had allegedly paid bribes totalling 21 million euros to officials in the Slovenian Defence Ministry as well as to then-Prime Minister Jansa.
Jansa is calling on YLE to pay 1.5 million euros in compensation for slandering his name and wants the broadcaster to recant on the allegations reported in the programme.
Hearings in the case began on Friday in Slovenia. YLE legal representative Kirsi-Marja Okkonen does not believe that a resolution is likely and added that the programme did not report any false allegations.
“Our view is very different,” she added.
It’s not yet known how long the legal process will last. Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation is still investigating the majority-state-owned Patria and according to Okkonen, those findings may influence the process launched by Jansa.
