Matti Matinheikki, the former head of urban planning in Oulu, has confessed to charges of malfeasance and fraud in a court hearing. He was accused of obtaining a car, an electric bike, and a parking space in central Oulu using city funds. The regional prosecutor, Katri Junnikkala-Heikkinen, indicated that these actions resulted in an illicit benefit of nearly 14,000 euros, describing Matinheikki’s conduct as particularly premeditated and unscrupulous.

Matinheikki's confession played a significant role in mitigating his sentence, as prosecutors factored in the lengthy time that had passed since the offenses, which occurred between 2018 and 2020, and the fact that he had voluntarily compensated the city for some damages. The court ultimately imposed a conditional sentence of three months, although the ruling is not yet final and is subject to appeal.

This incident highlights issues of accountability within local governance, emphasizing the impact of corruption at the municipal level. The case underscores the need for stringent oversight in public office to prevent similar abuses of power and misuse of public resources in the future.