Taxman dies unnoticed at desk (NOT the FReeper)

news.com.au ^ | 20Jan04 | correspondents in Helsinki

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Taxman dies unnoticed at desk From correspondents in Helsinki 20Jan04

THEY say only two things are sure in life, death and taxes, but rarely do they come together as in the case of the Finnish taxman who last week died at his desk and went unnoticed for two days.

The 60-year-old auditor died last Tuesday, but it took his colleagues until Thursday to notice that he wasn't just silently poring over tax returns, tabloid Ilta-Sanomat reported Monday. Officials declined to comment on the cause of death or confirm the age of the man, saying they would only comment on how it was possible that he could be dead for two days at work without anybody noticing.

"The reason for this was caused by many coincidences," Anita Wickstroem, director at the Helsinki tax office, told AFP.

"He was very much working alone and often visiting companies, while his friends and colleagues who used to have lunch or coffee with him were busy in meetings or outside the office at the time," she noted.

There are some 30 workers in the auditing department where he worked, and a total of 100 on the same floor, Wickstroem said.

Finns, who enjoy a comprehensive welfare system, pay among the highest taxes in the world.

This report appears on NEWS.com.au.

[BenLurkin]

Another one? There was a story like this about half a year ago IIRC.

[vikingchick]

Yes, this story sounds very familiar.

[martin_fierro]

He's Finnished, all right.

[Freedom2specul8]

Whoa.... unreal..this thread's gonna get big if the caucus thread doesn't hide it.

[william clark]

Urban legend, folks.

[catonsville]

Urban legend, recycled to Finland. Variations of this story have been around for years.

[BenLurkin]

Did they Polish him first?

[Freedom2specul8]

Make sure that when you say "good morning" to your colleagues, they answer back!

[KangarooJacqui]

"He's Finnished, all right."

- I wondered who'd be the first to make that quip. Last year, it'd have been a shootout between you and TrappedInLiberalHell... ;-)

[fly_so_free]

Are you sure this isn't an excerpt from "Dilbert"?

Sad if it's true.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Urban folklore, it was spotlighted on Discovery Channel last month.

Note, there is NO actual evidence, no names, no dates, no specifics.

Guy probably lost his poodle in the microwave too...

[martin_fierro]

I'll have you know that I hold an M.A. in The Obvious.

<|:)~

[Cultural Jihad]

B.B.C.
N.Y. Times

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I provided a link to the story.
Of course it is a newspaper.

[Viking2002]

OK, that pun was so bad, it came full-circle to actually being funny. LOL :-)

And may they all suffer the same fate.

[KangarooJacqui]

Never underestimate your audience, I say. Jay Leno makes a pretty good living, I understand... ;-P

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"The reason for this was caused by many coincidences," Anita Wickstroem, director at the Helsinki tax office, told AFP

One name.

[BARLF]

The headline made my heart skip a beat...........There is a freeper taxman, I believe.

[KangarooJacqui]

Actually I thought the same thing, for a second or two - then I saw the dateline and thought, "Naaah. Couldn't be."