Police in Helsinki have suspended a preliminary investigation into a suspected information leak concerning the Finnish Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.

The probe stemmed from a workplace harassment situation at the diplomatic mission.

Last summer, the embassy head at the time, Titta Maja-Luoto, received a written warning about inappropriate behaviour and harassment. The reprimand came after embassy staff members filed a complaint. She was subsequently removed from her post.

The information leak preliminary inquiry examined whether confidential information had been leaked to the media, which would have jeopardised legal protections of both the complainant and subject of the harassment case.

Police said they interviewed individuals involved in the matter and conducted an IT investigation.

The police's chief investigator in the case, Juha-Matti Suominen, told news agency STT that the probe was suspended because investigators were unable to establish who had committed which acts.

Earlier this month, newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported that the foreign affairs ministry had asked police to open an investigation into a possible data leak.

The ministry's IT management chief, Ari Uusikartano, confirmed to Yle by email that the ministry made the request in the late autumn. He said it made the request because of suspicions that information had been passed to the media in breach of regulations.

Ottawa embassy probe also suspended

Police have also suspended another preliminary investigation of suspected information leak at the foreign affairs ministry.

That probe concerned events at the Finnish Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. Around two years ago, the ministry filed a criminal report with police about a suspected illegal leak to the media.

That case involved a group of staff members who accused then-Ambassador Jari Vilén of harassment.

Vilén was subsequently removed from his post.

Detective Inspector Juha-Matti Suominen told commercial broadcaster MTV that the preliminary inquiry was suspended because investigators were unable to identify who leaked the information.