A Finnish court has sentenced Jukka Kristo, former CEO of berry company Polarica, to 2½ years in prison for human trafficking. His business associate, Kalyakorn Phongphit, received a nine-month sentence for the same offenses. The Lapland District Court found that they recruited Thai workers in 2022 to pick wild berries in Finland, misleading them about earnings and working conditions, ultimately leading to forced labor. The workers incurred debt due to high costs and worked long hours without days off, receiving inadequate accommodation. Kristo is banned from business for five years and stripped of his military rank. The defendants and Polarica must pay approximately €500,000 in compensation and €400,000 in legal costs. Both the defense and prosecution intend to appeal the verdict.