The Helsinki Court of Appeal on Tuesday declined to reopen the case of MP Timo Vornanen (Finns), in a decision that upheld his conviction by a lower court.

The Helsinki Court of Appeal refused his appeal of the district court's ruling, so his eight-month suspended prison sentence for assault, illegal threats and firearms offences will remain in force.

The charges stem from a late-night incident in central Helsinki in April 2024, when Vornanen, during a dispute outside a bar, threatened men with a handgun and fired a shot into the ground.

Vornanen said the appeal court's decision was both surprising and disappointing, adding that he is considering taking the case to the Supreme Court.

A former policeman, Vornanen was ejected from the Finns Party in the aftermath of the incident, but he remains in parliament as an independent.