A Finnish appeals court has upheld a restraining order protecting former Prime MinisterSanna Marin, rejecting an appeal from a man suspected of stalking her.

The Helsinki Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that it would not grant the suspect permission to challenge the decision. The restraining order,originally imposed by the Helsinki District Court in January, will remain in effect until January next year.

Under the terms of the extended restraining order, the 36-year-old suspect is prohibited from contacting Marin and forbidden to visit certain areas. The restricted locations have not been disclosed for security reasons.

The order also bans the man from following or monitoring the former prime minister.

The district court found that the man had loitered near Marin's residence and had even attempted to enter the building. He physically approached her multiple times in December, leading police to detain him on Christmas Eve near her home.

"There are reasonable grounds to believe that [the man] will commit a crime against Marin's life, health, freedom or peace or otherwise seriously disturb her," the court said.

The suspect denied being the person seen outside Marin's residence. He had petitioned the Court of Appeal to revoke the restraining order or, alternatively, to modify it to avoid what he argued was an excessive restriction on his freedom of movement.

Police investigation completed

Helsinki police completed aninvestigation into the suspected stalking case in January. The man is suspected of persistently following and monitoring Marin in December, despite repeated police warnings to cease his actions.

On 22 December and again on Christmas Eve, the suspect allegedly reached Marin's front door. Police apprehended him inside the entrance of her building on the latter occasion.

Investigators could not determine a clear motive for the suspected stalking. The man has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was in the area for unrelated reasons, including an interest in architecture and grocery shopping.

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Marin feared situation would escalate

Marin first encountered the suspect in November, when he reportedly ran after her on the street, attempting to stop her and call out to her. The former prime minister told authorities she feared the incidents would continue and worsen over time.

Marinfiled for a restraining order on 2 December, and police imposed an extended temporary order on 10 January. The case was subsequently reviewed in court.

Prosecutors are now considering criminal charges in the case.