Nationwide Manhunt for Cyber Criminal After Supreme Court Denies Appeal
In a significant development, the Finnish authorities have issued a nationwide wanted notice for Aleksanteri Kivimäki, who has been convicted in connection with a high-profile cyberattack and attempted extortion targeting the Vastaamo psychotherapy centre. This action follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision not to grant Kivimäki leave to appeal his prison sentence.
The Eastern Uusimaa Police confirmed that the notice was issued at the behest of the Criminal Sanctions Agency. They indicated that should Kivimäki be located, he would face immediate arrest and be remanded to custody to serve his sentence. Superintendent Mikko Minkkinen of the Helsinki Police emphasized that officers would act to detain Kivimäki if he comes into contact with law enforcement. He also noted that Vantaa Prison has been designated as the facility where Kivimäki will serve his time.
While the police are actively pursuing Kivimäki, Minkkinen refrained from confirming whether an international wanted notice has also been circulated.
Lawyer Claims Kivimäki is Not in Custody
Adding another layer to the unfolding story, Kivimäki’s lawyer, Peter Jaari, shared with Yle that he believes his client is currently not in prison. Jaari expressed uncertainty regarding Kivimäki’s precise whereabouts, speculating that he may have fled abroad.
Kivimäki was previously released from custody in September 2025, after authorities determined that he had already spent a considerable duration in pre-trial detention—a factor that could have resulted in compensation claims against the state.
In February, the Helsinki Court of Appeal issued a sentence of six years and 11 months, lengthening the initial penalty of six years and three months handed down in 2024.
The Vastaamo data breach case is noted as one of the largest in Finnish history, affecting approximately 33,000 patients. In 2018, Kivimäki infiltrated the psychotherapy centre’s database, subsequently attempting to extort money from both the institution and its clients in 2020.
