An elderly man who was kept in a windowless basement with no toilet and cooking facilities for a long time has finally been freed.
Police in Finland found the 80-year-old man, who has not been named, living under ‘inhumane conditions’ in a basement of a house within the country’s capital, Helsinki.
Helsinki Police said the person’s room didn’t have windows, a rest room or cooking facilities, adding that he was void of any ‘possibility of hygiene’.
Officers said the elderly man was ‘in need of immediate help’ and has been referred to healthcare professionals for care.
Local authorities consider the person could have been living there for 20 years, in line with Finnish national broadcaster Yle.
The shocking discovery was made on Monday after police searched the detached villa within the north of Helsinki.
Two men and a lady, all of their 60s, were arrested in reference to the incident, but were later released.
Leading the investigation, detective inspector Jari Korkalainen, said the victim voluntarily moved into the home greater than 20 years ago, where his health deteriorated over time.
The person’s discovery prompted Helsinki Police to launch an investigation into human trafficking over fears the perpetrators took advantage of the person’s vulnerable position.
Police have also raised concerns that the person could have been subject to degrading conditions for potential financial gain, local newspaper Iltalehti reported.
The newspaper also reported that the suspects were ‘shocked’ after being suspected of committing against the law.
It is known that the suspects could have known the victim for a while, Mr Korkalainen said.
Nonetheless, he made clear that the victim and the suspects usually are not related.
‘The suspects usually are not relatives of the victim, but they’ve known one another for a very long time,’ he said.
‘We’re looking into relationships between the people living in the home and other individuals, how the [victim] ended up there, and the way he could have lived in such poor conditions for therefore long.’
He added that the person is in good condition after receiving treatment.
An investigation stays ongoing as police determine the length of time the person lived within the basement and whether any crime was committed.
Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Woman watches ex-husband plead guilty to drugging and raping her over 13 years of marriage
MORE: The UK’s worst illegal dump sites revealed – including one full of 280,000 tonnes of waste
MORE: Ram-raiders smash into Yves Saint Laurent shop and steal handbags ‘price 1000’s’