Kahtlustatava

Kahtlustatava is a Finnish legal term used to denote the person who is under suspicion of having committed a crime during the early phase of a criminal investigation. The standard Finnish form is kahtlustettava; kahtlustatava is a common spelling variant. In Finnish criminal procedure, the kahtlustettava is the subject of investigative measures before charges are brought and is referred to in police statements, prosecutor decisions, and court documents to identify the person under suspicion.

The kahtlustettava has certain procedural rights and responsibilities as defined by Finnish law. This includes being informed of the reasons for suspicion, the right to legal counsel, and, if needed, the right to an interpreter, as well as protections such as the right to silence. Authorities must apply investigative measures in accordance with the applicable criminal procedure, balancing the need to investigate with the rights of the individual.

Distinctions and related terms: the kahtlustettava is not yet the defendant or accused in court; that status belongs to the syytetty after formal charges. The term is distinct from todistaja, the witness. In common usage, epäilty is another term that can refer to someone under suspicion, though kahtlustettava is the formal designation used in procedural contexts.

See also: epäilty, syytetty, todistaja, rikosprosessi.