Riga, Dec 30 (LETA) - The State Police propose to charge three municipal police officers and one other person for the shooting of three dogs in October in Brunava County of Bauska Municipality, the State Police informed LETA.

The police opened criminal proceedings for the incident, which is qualified under Article 230 (2) of the Criminal Code for cruelty to animals resulting in their death.

The investigation into the incident included the appointment of forensic tests, including to determine the cause of death of the deceased animals, work with the persons involved and a series of operational and other investigative actions to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

The State Police have received the results of the expert examinations and the causes of death of all the animals have been established, and the investigation has provided sufficient evidence to send the case to the Prosecutor's Office on December 30 for prosecution against the four suspects. Three of these persons are officials of the Bauska municipal police at the time, and the fourth is another person. The police did not comment to LETA whether this person was a hunter involved in the event.

Indulis Bligzna, head of the Zemgale Regional Directorate of the State Police, did not comment to journalists on Tuesday whether one of the suspects was a hunter, but confirmed that this individual was involved in the event.

Bligzna could not reveal the full circumstances of the event, as it is a secret pre-trial investigation.

He also confirmed that the suspected law enforcement officers are no longer serving in the Bauska Municipal Police.

As reported, on October 10, Bauska Region's Municipal Police received a call about three aggressive stray dogs threatening the owner of a private property in Brunava County, Bauska Municipality. The Municipal Police contacted the Animal Control Service, but a local hunter arrived before the animal catchers and shot the dogs.

The State Police have started a criminal case pursuant to Section 230 of the Criminal Law - Cruel Treatment of Animals and Torture of Animals. The applicable punishment is deprivation of liberty for a period of up to three years or temporary deprivation of liberty, probationary supervision, community service, or a fine.

Bauska Region's Municipal Police, in turn, have launched administrative proceedings over the killing of a roe deer by the three dogs and for letting the dogs stray.

Bauska Region's Municipal Police Chief Egils Gailis was initially suspended from his job pending internal investigation, but later he was fired. Disciplinary punishments were slapped on two municipal police officers.

Modris Konovalovs, the owner of Modra Olas poultry farm, has announced on social networks that the dogs belonged to him.