Finland
Sergeant shouted too loudly – rookie suffered hearing damage
A sergeant who shouted too loudly at the rookies was reprimanded by the court. The Satakunta District Court’s decision shows that the sergeant shouted at the rookies, red-faced, for, among other things, their inadequate service equipment and for moving too slowly.
The sergeant shouted loudly, even though some of the rookies were only about 20–30 centimeters away from him. The court considered this to be inappropriate behavior.
On one occasion, the sergeant shouted so loudly that one of the rookies suffered temporary hearing damage in his ear. The rookie suffered from tinnitus, i.e. ringing in the ears.
The incident took place in the Pori brigade in Säkylä in July of this year. At the time, the rookies were about to go to lunch, but the hallway was crowded with dozens of people.
According to the verdict, the corporal came right up to the recruit and shouted “speed” and “movement” in his ear.
Immediately after this, the recruit reported the corporal to the garrison and sought a medical examination.
The Satakunta District Court found that the shouting corporal was guilty of assaulting the recruit, for which he received a 40-day fine. This amounted to 240 euros in the 19-year-old man’s income.
The recruit had to interrupt his military service due to a hearing impairment, and he was assigned to the E service category. He will have to return to military service in a couple of years.
The corporal will have to pay the recruit 700 euros in compensation for pain and suffering.
Alokas joutui keskeyttämään varusmiespalveluksensa kovaäänisen alikersantin takia.
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