On March 15, 2019, Konrad K., president of the association called the Lower Silesian Inspectorate for Animal Protection, was formally charged with a total of seven offenses.

The suspect was charged with two offenses involving violation of the sanctity of the home, concerning his failure to leave private properties despite being asked to do so by their owners, as well as with taking three dogs with the intention of appropriating them.

In one case, the suspect also allegedly used violence against the owner of one of the dogs, in order to retain possession of the animal he had taken, causing her bodily injuries.

In addition, the suspect was charged with fraud for posing as an inspector of the Society for the Protection of Animals when taking a dog from another person.

Another charge concerns document forgery, involving various types of documents signed using other people’s personal details.

Konrad K. did not admit to committing the alleged offenses and gave statements in the case. The man was placed under police supervision and prohibited from performing activities arising from the Animal Protection Act.

The preparatory proceedings in this case are being conducted by the Municipal Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra. Law enforcement authorities took action following numerous notifications of suspected offenses committed by Konrad K., submitted by various entities, including the mayor of Jelenia Góra, the Regional Court in Jelenia Góra and the owners of the animals that had been taken.

The Provincial Administrative Court in Wrocław also spoke critically about the association’s activities in a judgment of September 11, 2018, referring to actions undertaken by the association called the Lower Silesian Inspectorate for Animal Protection, such as issuing a “decision,” which could suggest that they were undertaken by public authorities rather than by a social organization.

The Prosecutor’s Office continues to receive further reports from people harmed by Konrad K.’s activities who express doubts as to whether the actions he undertook complied with the law.

The findings of the preparatory proceedings indicate, among other things, that Konrad K., who headed the association, failed to comply with the obligation under the Animal Protection Act to transfer a seized animal to a shelter. In some cases, despite the statutory obligation, he also failed to notify the local government authority that an animal had been taken.

Investigators:

Regardless of the need to take action to protect animals and to punish people who commit acts of abuse against them, unlawful conduct involving the use of violence, violation of bodily integrity and causing bodily injuries cannot be considered acceptable. The same applies to unjustified violations of property rights, document forgery, or conducting activities and drafting documents in a manner intended to create the impression that they are undertaken by public authorities or other institutions rather than by a social organization.

They add:

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra, together with the District Prosecutor’s Offices under its authority, is taking a range of measures aimed at severely punishing perpetrators of all conduct bearing the hallmarks of animal abuse. In 2018 alone, 24 indictments were filed with the courts in such cases.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra has also appointed a coordinator to assess the proper conduct of criminal proceedings in this area. Increasingly often, the Prosecutor’s Office’s actions result in convictions for offenses under the Animal Protection Act, including prison sentences.

There are also situations in which the Prosecutor’s Office’s efforts to punish perpetrators of offenses against the lives and health of animals, expressed through the filing of indictments, do not receive approval from the court, where acquittals are handed down.