It was in April 2021 that the suspected hunting crime was discovered when staff from the County Administrative Board discovered a reindeer carcass and predator shears where the wolverine was stuck.
The suspected crime scene is in eastern Norrbotten and the accused man works for a Sami village in the area. The Sami village has previously applied for protective hunting of wolverines due to large losses to predators.
Escaped on a scooter – denies crime
The county board’s nature watcher met the man at the traps, but after a short conversation he is said to have fled the scene on a scooter. One of the nature guards then took up the hunt and half an hour later the man was arrested by the police.
During Wednesday, the suspected perpetrator was heard at Haparanda district court and he denies the accusations.
– They refused to say why I should stay and I had a lot to do, said the man during the trial.
Asking for a prison sentence
Chamber prosecutor Lars Magnusson thinks that the evidence is strong and believes that the crime should be assessed as serious as the wolverine is an endangered, rare or otherwise worthy game.
The penalty for the crime is at least six months, but Lars Magnusson wants to see at least one year in prison.
– He has committed a crime with an unauthorized hunting method and subjected the female wolverine to suffering, he says in his final plea.