Suspect in horrific killing of puppy released
SAKARYA
The operator of a grader, who was arrested over the horrible killing of a puppy earlier this month, was released from prison on June 23, Turkish media reported.
The puppy was found on June 13 by passersby in a wooded area in the Sapanca district of the western province of Sakarya, fighting for its life as four of its feet had been cut off.
Locals hospitalized the dog, which succumbed to its injuries two days later, despite an emergency operation in Istanbul.
Amid public outcry, local officials announced that the culprit, the operator of a grader who worked in the area, had been found and was arrested by a court order on June 17 on charges of killing the dog.
The operator, identified as 39-year-old İlhan M., denied responsibility over the incident in his testimony.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported on June 26 that the operator was released by the Sapanca Penal Court on June 23, after a week in prison.
After the public reaction over the puppy’s horrific killing, the government had announced that the first job of the new parliament after the June 24 elections would be debating a new ministerial bill that includes more severe punishments in cases of violence against stray animals.
