Roughly translated by TWIN Observer
If the zoo had taken security of the enclosure more seriously, the zookeeper in Kolmården might not have been killed by wolves, according to the prosecutor. On Friday begins the trial of a former manager charged with crimes in the workplace of gross negligent manslaughter.
Malin Ekmark TT
On June 17, 2012 a zookeeper was found dead among Kolmårdens wolves. She has been alone inside the enclosure with eight adult males – without any alarm and without the ability to quickly get to safety.
“Had Kolmarden taken the measures it was required to do, this accident very likely would not have occurred,” Jan Olof Andersson, prosecutor said.
Not legally unique
The event has been called unique in the world, but from a strictly legal perspective, the standard according to Jan Olof Andersson. He believes that it is an employer who forgot, or ignored, to comply with laws and regulations and that in turn led to a worker’s death.
“The unusual thing is that there are predators who caused it,” he says.
The preliminary investigation holds data on several previous incidents with the wolves. When such occurs, the events are investigated and measures taken so that they are not repeated.
“2009-2010 the work environment office made an inspection, noting: “You have gaps in your systematic work environment, you do not make proper risk assessments and you do not investigate accidents in a proper way,” says Jan-Olof Andersson.
“But it still nothing happens at Kolmarden.
Wolf Experts questioned
Jan Olof Andersson points out that the case is about an employer’s responsibility to eliminate the risk of accidents and that workers should be able to feel secure in their workplace.
“This is not about wolves existing,” he says.
During the main hearing in the District Court, the so-called expert hearings are to be held by five wolf experts.
“They have strong views on how to handle the wolves at Kolmarden. Other zoos have had other safety procedures and Kolmarden had rules that matched the accident had not occurred,” says Jan Olof Andersson.
The one who should be held accountable for the alleged shortcomings are the zoo’s former chief Zoologiske Mats Höggren.
“The CEO has delegated this responsibility to work Mats Höggren. Höggren says he delegated further, but the people say they have not had that responsibility.
Deny the charges
In the first instance the prosecutor claiming that Mats Höggren – who denies the charges – had direct responsibility. Secondly, he had a so-called indirect corporate responsibility.
“It means that even if Mats Höggren delegated the responsibility he has, if he receives evidence of any negligence or that it does not work, an obligation to go in and investigate and to remedy the deficiencies.
Whether direct or indirect responsibility Höggren would have acted in the earlier incidents, according to the prosecutor.
Fact: The prosecution
Kolmarden zoo’s previous Zoologiske manager, Mats Höggren, is accused of working crimes including manslaughter, felony.
The indictment described the crime as aggravated “because the act involved a conscious risk of a serious nature” and that Höggren “guilty of misconduct of a serious nature”.
The prosecution rests its case on, among other things:
■ Penal code manslaughter
■ Environment Act on the employer’s responsibility for a good working environment in the form of risk analyzes, measures to minimize the risks as well as information to employees on risk management.
■ Work Environment Authority on solo work, systematic work and work with animals.
The punishment scale for aggravated manslaughter holds imprisonment for at least one year to a maximum of six years.
The prosecutor contends that the zoo ordered to pay a fine of four million crowns.
Source: The lawsuit from the National Department of Environment and working environment
Fact: Experts contacted
Work Crimes distinguished by the long investigation times. The causal relationships are often not as clearly given as the other crimes and the fact that it concerns so-called criminal negligence complicate the investigations further.
After the report on the accident at the Kolmarden almost complete after 1.5-2 years began to wolf experts to get in touch to make contributions to the investigation, according to prosecutors Jan Olof Andersson. Since several of the experts are living abroad, the prosecutor had to go through the Department of Justice to request international legal assistance. This has been done in Norway, the USA and Austria.
The experts’ contribution is seen as important but has also contributed to a longer investigation time. The indictment was filed in January this year, more than 3.5 years after the accident.
“Considering the scope of investigation and restart it pretty quickly marched anyway,” prosecutor Jan Olof Andersson said.
Source: Prosecutors Jan Olof Andersson.
Fact: Wolf Attacks
When the zookeeper was killed on Kolmarden summer 2012 it attracted much attention. It was the first time since 1821 that a man killed by wolves in Sweden. At that time it involved a wolf who grew up among people but then was unleashed. Nine people, most of them children, were killed on the border between Dalarna and Gästrikland.
Wild wolves have not killed people in Sweden since the early 1700s. But in India and Eastern Europe has several deadly attacks in modern times, and in North America are two known cases in recent years, one in Alaska in 2010 and one in Saskatchewan in Canada in 2005.
Source: Viltskadecenter