Source: Finnish National Channel Yle

Ewo Pohjola, manager of Finnish metal band Nightwish, was accused of lifting and choking a woman at the event in Tampere in 2023.

Ewo Pohjola has been Finnish band Nightwish’s manager since the early 2000s and is regarded as a pioneer in Finnish artist management and music exports. 

Pirkanmaa District Court has convicted Ewo Pohjola, manager of the Finnish metal band Nightwish, one a charge of assaulting a woman at the Music x Media event in Tampere in 2023.

Pohjola was fined 1,000 euros and also ordered to pay additional compensation.

According to the prosecution, Pohjola suddenly held the woman in a chokehold and lifted her, stopping only when a third person intervened. Pohjola and the victim were not previously known to each other.

Pohjola denied the charges, arguing he had not choked or lifted the woman but had merely embraced her.

The court however ruled that Pohjola committed a physical assault against the woman and that the act came as a surprise to her. While the court found that Pohjola did not intend to choke the woman, it concluded that he should have realised his actions could cause her pain.

The ruling also noted that the act could have impacted the woman’s work as a musician.

Yle is reporting on the case due to Pohjola’s significant role in the music industry. He has been Nightwish’s manager since the early 2000s and is regarded as a pioneer in Finnish artist management and music exports.

Humiliating incident

The plaintiff testified that she briefly spoke with a man accompanying Pohjola but did not talk to the music industry veteran, who she said seemed “restless” and “intoxicated”.

She recalled Pohjola calling her a “pretty girl” and “beautiful woman” before suddenly pressing his forearm against her neck and lifting her momentarily. The chokehold lasted several seconds, causing pain, and ended only when the other man intervened.

“Pohjola then laughed and said a couple of times that it was exciting,” the victim said, describing the incident as “shocking, distressing, and humiliating” for a young artist like her.

Pohjola: “I am not a violent guy”

Pohjola denied choking the woman, claiming he assumed she knew the other man and described the atmosphere as cheerful. He admitted to drinking and said he gave her a “bear hug.”

“It’s obviously not okay to go hugging strangers, but things like this happen all the time,” he said.

Pohjola insisted his actions were meant as a friendly gesture and denied committing any physical violence.

“I’m not a violent guy. This is just a series of misunderstandings.”

In February 2024, Yle reported on the allegations against Pohjola. Two women told Yle that Pohjola had assaulted them at the same music event in 2023. Pohjola was also reported to have pulled another woman’s hair at the bar counter during the same event, before being removed shortly afterwards.