A Finnish woman who alleged she was gang raped by three men after leaving a Helsinki hospital as a teenager has lost her appeal, with judges once again concluding that the sexual encounters were consensual and ordering her to pay more than €16,000 to cover the defendants’ legal costs.

The case stems from an incident in October 2024, when the then-17-year-old was taken to Malmi Hospital suffering from severe intoxication. During the night, she met three men in the hospital’s emergency department before accompanying them to a wooded area nearby, where sexual intercourse took place.

The case triggered national controversy after the teenager later reported that she had been raped. However, both the Helsinki District Court and now the Helsinki Court of Appeal have ruled that the evidence did not support the allegation.

In its judgment, cited by Iltalehti, the Court of Appeal said extensive surveillance footage, witness testimony, and medical evidence showed the teenager remained capable of making decisions and expressing her wishes despite her intoxication.

The teen had an alcohol blood level of 2.0 per mille, considered to be a very high and dangerous level of intoxication that can result in difficulty walking, severe loss of balance, disorientation, severely clouded judgment, and a high likelihood of experiencing dizziness and nausea.

However, judges noted that camera footage showed her walking independently with the men into the wooded area and behaving in a manner inconsistent with someone unable to consent. The court also pointed to testimony from a doctor who described her as intoxicated but still capable of functioning normally.

As reported by Helsingin Sanomat, one of the key moments examined by the court involved a security guard who interrupted the group in the woods. According to the ruling, the teenager dressed herself and then voluntarily moved with the men to another location, where sexual activity continued.

The court said those actions weighed against claims that she was acting under coercion, fear, or an inability to make decisions. Judges further stated that there was no more likely explanation for the group’s move into the woods than an intention to engage in sexual intercourse.

The appeal judges therefore adopted the same interpretation of events as the district court, which had acquitted the three defendants in April 2025. Prosecutors did not challenge that ruling and chose not to pursue an appeal themselves.

Because the appeal was brought solely by the complainant, the Court of Appeal ordered her to cover the defendants’ legal costs arising from the subsequent proceedings. The amount exceeds €16,000 and will be reimbursed to the state.

The case drew significant public attention across Finland, with supporters organizing fundraising campaigns to help the complainant cover legal and therapy expenses. More than €20,000 was reportedly raised through several initiatives, including a separate appeal that collected €10,000 within a single day.