Drunk Finnish soldier admits to injuring Maltese man bottle attack

Tatu Antero Oksanen, who is understood to have changed his plea following an out-of-court settlement, had been interrupted trying to force entry into a parked van by its owner, who he then attacked with a broken bottle.

Tatu Antero Oksanen was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty at a late stage in proceedings.
Tatu Antero Oksanen was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty at a late stage in proceedings.

An off-duty Finnish soldier who cut a Maltese man's face with a broken bottle whilst trying to rob his van last January, has been handed a suspended sentence after filing a late guilty plea.

33 year-old Tatu Antero Oksanen, who had been in Malta on vacation, was accused of grievously injuring salesman Christopher Vassallo from Zabbar on the 4th of January this year in Paceville.

During the compilation of evidence, Vassallo - his face still bandaged - had told Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit how the attack had taken place at 4:15AM on Sunday the 4th of January. He testified that he had been walking to his parked van, when he spotted someone attempting to force open the window of his van. Vassallo had told him to stop, but the person, who he recognised as the accused, said “this is not your van”, grabbed him from the shoulder and shoved him against the back door of the van.

Oksanen, who once served with the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, had then smashed a full wine bottle against the van’s rear bumper and hit Vassallo in the face with it, ignoring his victim’s pleas for mercy. Vassallo required twelve stitches to his face.

During the Finn’s initial arraignment, police Inspector Elton Taliana had explained that the accused had been heavily intoxicated at the time of the assault, so much so that he had tripped over while being chased by the police, suffering two black eyes as a result.

Oksanen was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Vassallo, causing damage to his vehicle, attempted aggravated theft and public drunkenness. The Finn had initially denied the accusations and, after some time, eventually been granted bail.

However it is understood that earlier this month, Vassallo had withdrawn his complaint and dropped some of the charges after reaching an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount with the Finn. Oksanen had subsequently changed his plea and registered an admission.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit handed the man a one year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Lawyers Dr. Franco Debono and Dr. Amadeus Cachia were defence counsel. Dr. Michael Sciriha was parte civile for Vassallo.