Probe into Uros Oy Uncovers Nearly €38 Million in Suspected Fraud

Nearly €38 million in suspected losses tied to Uros Oy have emerged from a wide criminal probe into the former naming sponsor of Tampere’s arena, with alleged misconduct dating to 2019–2022, according to Tamperelainen.

The National Bureau of Investigation says its preliminary inquiry is nearing completion and the case is being sent for prosecution. Authorities allege aggravated debtor dishonesty, aggravated accounting fraud and aggravated forgery, along with two separate aggravated frauds linked to past financing talks. Investigators say the main offences involve ten people, two of whom have been identified as primary suspects. Inquiries have reached across 14 group companies in countries including China, Taiwan and Brazil, and Swiss authorities have forwarded two related fraud probes for further investigation. Senior Commissioner of Police Henry Rinteelä warned the case is unusually large and international.

Preliminary findings indicate Uros accumulated substantial receivables from group companies while effectively insolvent from early 2019. Investigators suspect assets were transferred at undervalue, receivables shifted without a commercial basis and financial obligations were added improperly, producing an estimated €37.9 million loss. The company had lent its name to Tampere’s arena as Uros Live when the sponsorship was announced in March 2000. Amid the financial revelations, the venue was renamed Nokia Arena in October 2021 ahead of its November opening.