For the killing of three dogs in October in the Brunava parish of Bauska County, the police propose to initiate criminal prosecution against three municipal police officers and one other person, the State Police informed the LETA agency.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated regarding the incident, classified under the second part of Article 230 of the Criminal Code — for cruel treatment of animals that resulted in their death.
During the investigation, expert examinations were appointed, including to establish the causes of the animals' deaths, work was conducted with the participants of the incident, as well as a number of operational and investigative actions aimed at establishing all the circumstances of what happened.
The State Police received the results of the examinations, the causes of death of all the animals were established, and during the investigation, a sufficient volume of evidence was collected to transfer the case to the prosecutor's office on December 30 for the initiation of criminal prosecution against four suspects. Three of them were, at that time, officials of the municipal police of Bauska County, and the fourth was another individual. The police did not comment to the LETA agency on whether this person was a hunter involved in the incident.
One of the participants is charged with a crime under the second part of Article 230 of the Criminal Code — cruel treatment of animals resulting in their death. This is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, as well as deprivation of the right to keep certain or any types of animals for up to five years.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against two other individuals under the first part of Article 319 of the Criminal Code — for failure to perform official duties, namely, if an official intentionally or negligently fails to perform actions that they are obliged to perform by law or order, and as a result, significant damage is caused. Both of these individuals allowed the situation to occur by failing to fulfill their official duties — they did not prevent the commission of the crime. This is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service, or a fine.
Another individual is charged with a crime under the first part of Article 317 of the Criminal Code — intentional actions of an official that clearly exceed the rights and powers granted by law or order, if such actions caused significant damage. This individual gave an oral order, as a result of which a crime was committed. Such an act is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, short-term imprisonment, probation supervision, community service, or a fine.
On Tuesday, Indulis Bligzna, the head of the Zemgale Regional Department of the State Police, did not comment at a meeting with journalists on whether one of the suspects is a hunter, but confirmed that the mentioned private individual did indeed participate in the incident.
Bligzna also noted that he cannot fully disclose the circumstances of the incident as it is a pre-trial investigation secret.
He confirmed that the suspected police officers no longer work in the municipal police of Bauska County.
The State Police reminds that no individual is considered guilty until their guilt in committing a crime is proven in the manner prescribed by law.
It was previously reported that on October 10, the municipal police of Bauska County received a call about three aggressive stray dogs threatening a woman on private property in the Brunava parish. The duty unit of the municipal police contacted the "Animal Rescue Service" — animal catchers, however, a representative of the hunting collective arrived earlier and shot the dogs.
The municipal police initiated two administrative proceedings — one regarding the killing of a roe deer committed by the dogs, and the second regarding the allowed stray behavior of the animals.
Initially, the head of the municipal police, Egils Gailis, was suspended from duty during the service check. Later, based on the interim report of the check, he was dismissed. Disciplinary measures were applied to two other employees of the municipal police of the county.
At the same time, the municipal police of Bauska County contacted the Bureau of Internal Security, the State Police, and the Information Center of the Ministry of the Interior regarding the data leak.
Entrepreneur Modris Konovalov, the owner of the "Modra olas" farm, reported on social media that the animals belonged to him.
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