A Finnish fugitive has been arrested in Orihuela Costa after a European Arrest Warrant was issued against him.
The suspect, 53, faces a potential eight-year prison sentence after being convicted in his home country of defamation and harassment offences, committed between 2022 and 2023.
The warrant was circulated to officers in Alicante via the International Fugitives Group of the Comisaria General de Policia Judicial, after Finnish authorities suspected the man could be residing in the province.
Investigators began tracking his whereabouts and determined that he was allegedly living in a motorhome in the Orihuela Costa area.
Following a coordinated police operation, officers from the Policía Nacional located and arrested him, according to an official statement.
The offences were committed in the Finnish towns of Imatra and Ruokolahti between 2022 and 2023.
According to authorities, the man published approximately 3,000 posts across various social media platforms and online discussion forums in which he allegedly defamed a third party, causing significant reputational and financial harm.
The publications reportedly contained false information which led to the victim being denied two bids submitted in a public tender process, resulting in financial losses exceeding €20,500.
Police say a second individual was similarly affected after at least 130 defamatory posts led to the cancellation of agreed work contracts.
The detainee has been placed at the disposal of the Central Court of Instruction of the Audiencia Nacional, which is responsible for handling extradition procedures under European Arrest Warrants.
The case will now move forward through Spain’s judicial system as Finland seeks his surrender to serve the sentence imposed.
