Helsinki - The former head of Finnish defence group Patria was detained Thursday on suspicion of bribery, Finnish police and local media said Thursday. Jorma Wiitakorpi stepped down as chief executive of Patria in mid-August, and was replaced by Heikki Allonen.
The bribery suspicions were linked to the 2006 sale of 135 armoured personnel carriers to Slovenia.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) launched its probe in May, and has cooperated with Slovenian police.
Allegations that Patria had paid some 21 million euros (30 million dollars) to Slovenian officials to help clinch the deal were broadcast in a documentary by Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) in September.
The claims were made shortly before Slovenia went to the polls, and were believed to have contributed to the election defeat sustained by former Prime Minister Janez Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party.
In a statement Thursday, Patria said a former and a current member of Patria Group management were detained.
The group said two other Patria employees have been held for questioning. One of the two was released Thursday.
