The Lapland District Court has sentenced Markku Porsanger, the former deputy property manager of Utsjoki Municipality, to a fine of 800 euros for negligent breach of duty. In addition to the fine, he is required to compensate the state for 649 euros in witness costs. The ruling is not yet legally binding, leaving open the possibility of appeal. This case emerges from a past report by Yle regarding the oversight of construction contracts for multi-purpose buildings in Utsjoki, which were procured by the municipality's property working group, highlighting concerns over authority limits in procurement decisions. The court found that Porsanger intentionally failed to perform his duties in handling oversight agreements related to four construction projects within the municipality. According to the indictment, he neglected to submit oversight agreement matters to the technical committee for decision, despite it being the competent authority in the matter. Additionally, he failed to adhere to procurement laws, raising serious questions regarding governance and accountability within the municipality's operations. The construction projects in question include Utsjoki’s multi-purpose building and high school dormitory, as well as schools in Karigasniemi and Nuorgam. This ruling has broader implications for municipal governance, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to procurement procedures to uphold public trust and ensure effective resource management within local governments.