A 56-year-old man has been charged following an extensive animal cruelty investigation into the alleged drowning of a four-month-old thoroughbred foal, Queensland Police say.
The Queensland Racing Crime Squad (QRCS), State Crime Command worked in conjunction with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC), Integrity Regulatory Unit Stewards on the investigation.
The 56-year-old Yandina man was charged with serious animal cruelty, breach of duty of care and wilful damage offences.
QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett said incidents of animal cruelty of this nature are beyond what the public expects from the racing industry and the QRIC will continue to work with the Queensland Police Service to hold industry participants to account for unacceptable animal cruelty.
"The welfare of racing animals is of the utmost importance and those who perform acts of cruelty to animals are on notice," he said
"This joint agency investigation, whilst tragic, demonstrates the excellent working relationship which has been established between the QPS and the QRIC and the results which can be achieved through mutual cooperation," Detective Acting Superintendent Lance Vercoe of State Crime Command’s Drug and Serious Crime Group said.
Since its inception on July 1, 2016 the QRCS has been co-located with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner at Albion and is tasked with investigating serious animal cruelty, major and organised crime across all three codes of racing.
The man is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 22, 2017. Serious animal cruelty carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
Anyone who witnesses animal cruelty please report it to Crime Stoppers.
