Horse Sanctuary Under Suspicion of Fraud: Investigations Against Operator

As reported by ORF Styria on Tuesday, animals that were supposed to spend their twilight years on the farm were allegedly resold for profit. The Graz public prosecutor's office confirmed the corresponding investigations. So far, four cases are being pursued.

Fraud Suspicion: A total of four people are being investigated

On the horse farm in Western Styria, old and chronically ill horses were supposed to find their final home. However, according to the Graz public prosecutor's office, there is suspicion that the animals were resold or slaughtered under false pretenses. They could have been resold as riding horses at a high price, for example. Contractually, the transfer or sale of the animals was not allowed, said affected horse owners to ORF, which spoke with nearly a dozen affected individuals whose horses were housed on the Western Styrian farm and suddenly disappeared.

A total of four people are being investigated, said Christian Kroschl, spokesperson for the Graz public prosecutor's office. Two are suspected of serious commercial fraud, and two of serious fraud. The operators of the Western Styrian farm are said to have left Styria and are reportedly running a horse farm in Lower Austria, according to ORF in its report.

(APA/Red)

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