MP and former professional wrestler and boxer Tony Halme (True Finns) will be facing charges for six different offences when the events surrounding this July's shooting incident are aired at the Helsinki District Court in the near future.

   

The number and nature of the offences emerged from the State Prosecutor's Office decision on Thursday. The charges have been slightly refined relative to the findings of the preliminary police investigation.

   

Prosecutor Ari-Pekka Koivisto accuses Halme of a firearms violation, behaviour likely to cause danger, smuggling, possession of imported goods knowing them to be illegal, drug use, and driving while intoxicated.

   

Two of the listed offences - smuggling and possession of illegal imports - are new, whereas the doping violation suspected by the police has been dropped.

   

In practice, this is more of a question of the terminology used, of what wording should be applied when linking Halme to the drugs found in a search of his home.

According to the charges

, there is probable cause to suspect that Halme smuggled pharmaceutical preparations without proper documentation into Finland in 2001 and that he acquired more illegal substances last year, even though he knew they had been smuggled in.

   

In addition, charges will be read out for illegal possession of a military pistol with ammunition, with which Halme caused a serious health risk and a life-threatening situation to his wife at their home during a late-night incident in July of this year.

   

Halme is also suspected of having used amphetamine, and having driven his 4x4 vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in the Kaivopuisto area of Helsinki.

Apart from the firearms violation

, Halme has denied all the allegations. Some of the charges could carry a possible custodial sentence if the defendant is found guilty.

   

It is unclear what impact the case could have on Halme's Parliamentary career. He spent several weeks in hospital after the July shooting, but has since returned to his duties as an MP for Helsinki. He entered Parliament with a very large vote in the March general election.