Ammon News - An 80-year-old man has been freed after being found living in a windowless basement room with no toilet, cooking facilities or access to hygiene for what police believe may have been several decades.

The man was discovered during a police search of a villa in northern Helsinki, Finland where officers say he had been residing in 'inhumane conditions' for years.

In a press release, Finnish police said the man's living space was a basement room with no windows and no possibility of hygiene, use of a toilet or cooking.

Officers said the man was found in poor physical condition and was in need of immediate assistance.

Police stressed that the man had not been physically locked in the room, but are now investigating whether he had the ability or opportunity to leave.

'We are now investigating whether he had the opportunity to move from the room or whether he lacked that ability,' Detective Inspector Jari Korkalainen said.

The grim discovery was made on Monday, January 19, when officers carried out a search of the villa, located in what police described as a 'normal residential area' in the capital city.

Two men and a woman in their 60s were arrested in connection with the case.

They were later released but remain suspects in the ongoing investigation.

Daily Mail