Finnish Penal Code (General Part)
Source: Finnish Ministry of Justice

Chapter 1 Scope of application of the criminal law of Finland (626/1996)


Section 1 Offence committed in Finland


Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed in Finland.
Section 2 Offence connected with a Finnish vessel


(1) Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed on board a Finnish vessel or aircraft if the offence has been committed
  • (1) while the vessel was on the high seas or in a territory not belonging to any State or while the aircraft was in or over such territory or
    (2) while the vessel was in the territory of a foreign State or the aircraft was in or over such territory and the offence has been committed by the master of the vessel, a member of its crew, its passenger or a person who otherwise was on board.

(2) Finnish law shall also apply to an offence committed outside of Finland by the master or member of a crew of a Finnish vessel or aircraft if, by the offence, the offender has violated his/her or her special statutory obligations as the master or member of the crew of the vessel.

Section 3 Offence directed at Finland

(1) Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed outside of Finland that has been directed at Finland.
(2) An offence is deemed to have been directed at Finland
  • (1) if it is an offence of treason or high treason,
    (2) if the act has otherwise seriously violated or endangered the national, military or economic rights or interests of Finland or
    (3) if it has been directed at a Finnish authority.

Section 4 Offence in office and military offence

(1) Finnish law shall apply to an offence referred to in chapter 40 that has been committed outside of Finland by a person referred to in chapter 2, section 12 of this Code.
(2) Finnish law shall also apply to an offence referred to in chapter 45 that has been committed outside of Finland by a person subject to the provisions of said chapter.

Section 5 Offence directed against a Finn


Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed outside of Finland that has been directed against a Finnish citizen, a Finnish association, foundation or other legal entity or a foreigner permanently residing in Finland if, according to Finnish law, the act may be punishable by imprisonment for more than six months.
Section 6 Offence committed by a Finn

(1) Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed by a Finn outside of Finland. If the offence has been committed in territory not belonging to any State, it is a precondition for punishability that, according to Finnish law, the act may be punishable by imprisonment for more than six months.
(2) A person who at the time of the offence was, or at the beginning of the trial is, a Finnish citizen is deemed to be a Finnish citizen.
(3) The following are deemed to be comparable to a Finnish citizen:
  • (1) a person who at the time of the offence had, or at the beginning of the trial has, his/her or her permanent residence in Finland, and
    (2) a person who is found in Finland and at the beginning of the trial is a citizen of Iceland, Norway, Sweden or Denmark or at this time has his/her or her permanent residence in one of these countries.
Section 7 International offence


Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed outside of Finland where the punishability of the act, regardless of the law of the place of commission, is based on an international agreement binding on Finland or on another statute or regulation internationally binding on Finland (international offence). More detailed provisions on the application of this section shall be issued by Decree. Section 8Other offence committed outside of Finland


Finnish law shall apply to an offence committed outside of Finland which, according to Finnish law, may be punishable by imprisonment for more than six months, if the State in the territory of which the offence has been committed has requested that charges be brought in a Finnish court or that the offender be extradited because of the offence, but the extradition request has not been granted.
Section 9 Corporate criminal liability


If, under this chapter, Finnish law applies to the offence, corporate criminal liability shall also be determined according to Finnish law.
Section 10 Place of commission of an offence

(1) An offence is deemed to have been committed both where the criminal act was committed and where the consequence contained in the statutory definition of the offence became apparent. An offence of omission shall be deemed to have been committed both where the offender should have acted and where the consequence contained in the statutory definition of the offence became apparent.
(2) If the offence remains an attempt, the offence shall be deemed to have been committed also where, had the offence been completed, the consequence contained in the statutory definition of the offence either would probably have become apparent or would in the opinion of the offender have become apparent.
(3) An offence by an inciter and abettor shall be deemed to have been committed both where the act of complicity was committed and where the offence by the offender is deemed to have been committed.
(4) If no certainty exists as to the place of commission of the offence, but there is justified reason to presume that the offence has been committed in the territory of Finland, it is deemed to have been committed in Finland.

Section 11 Requirement of double criminality


If the offence has been committed in the territory of a foreign State, the application of Finnish law may be based on sections 5, 6 and 8 only if the offence is punishable also according to the law of the place of commission and a sentence could have been passed for it also by a court of this foreign State. In this event no more severe sanction than what is provided by the law of the place of commission may be imposed in Finland.
Section 12 Prosecution order by the Chancellor of Justice


(1) A criminal case must not be investigated in Finland without an order by the Chancellor of Justice
  • (1) where the offence has been committed abroad or
    (2) where a foreigner has committed an offence on board a foreign vessel when the vessel was in Finnish territorial waters or on board a foreign aircraft when the aircraft was in Finnish air space and the offence has not been directed against Finland, a citizen of Finland, a person permanently resident in Finland or a Finnish association, foundation or other legal entity