NESA MD resigns over faulty protective gears import

The Managing Director of the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), Tomi Lounema has resigned on Friday following import of faulty coronavirus protective equipment, said an official press release.

Lounema submitted the resignation following the defective procedure in the procurement of personal protective equipment and the consequent lack of confidence.

He admitted that the equipment worth about ten million euros was not up to scratch for hospital use and it was not delivered by the reality TV star with whom he had agreed the contract, local media reported.

Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen at a press conference announced the resignation of the NESA boss.

She said that the credibility of the NESA had been damaged and the Deputy Managing Director of the organization Janne Känkänen would replace Lounema.

“We will receive a report of these procurements, but the situation has rapidly come to the point where the preconditions of the CEO of the National Emergency Supply Agency to continue in his post have essentially deteriorated. In this challenging situation, the most important thing is to safeguard the capacity of the National Emergency Supply Agency to make critical procurements needed by Finland in the fight against coronavirus,” said Haatainen.

Earlier on Friday Prime Minister Sanna Marin expressed no-confidence in management of Lounema of the NESA.

The flawed procurement process has been widely discussed in public recently after a consignment of masks failed tests and were therefore not sent to hospitals.

According to local media, Lounema bought the masks from Onni Sarmaste, a payday lender, and he was in dispute with reality TV star Tiina Jylhä over the payments, reported National broadcaster Yle.

Earlier, on April 9, the Minister of Employment requested the NESA to provide a report of the procurement of protective equipment.

The report is scheduled to be submitted to the Ministry on April 14. The Board of Directors of the NESA also decided to commission an external audit of the transactions that have already been made.