HELSINKI: Not a soul was to be seen at the construction site of an entertainment complex in Virolahti, Eastern Finland, in January. Destia has filed a claim for 1.1 million euros in unpaid bills against a group of investors involved in the construction of a casino, shopping centre and hotel close to the Vaalimaa border-crossing point in Virolahti, Eastern Finland.
The infrastructure constructor claims that Vaalimaa Shopping Center (VSC), a company established by the Russian investors, has neglected to pay the final instalment required for the pre-construction phase. The instalment was due to be paid last year. “We’re in talks with Vaalimaa Shopping Center over postponing the payment schedule,” says Johanna Otranen, the communications manager at Destia. All work at the construction site was halted in December.
The main attraction of the entertainment complex was to be a casino operated by Finland’s Slot Machine Association (RAY), for which RAY acquired the requisite approvals already in 2012. The construction project did not begin until early last year, however. Destia completed its part of the project – the foundation and underground parking facilities – at the end of last year.
