The man and woman, who kidnapped a foal from a horse auction in Dalerveen last year, are still being prosecuted. Owner Anna da Silva is determined that the duo will not escape punishment.
It was a sensational event last August. In broad daylight, a man from Coevorden and a woman from Alkmaar took the foal Elvira away from the mare and the owner Da Silva, who herself comes from Oosthuizen in North Holland, after some pushing and pulling. The animal was loaded into a trailer, after which the two took off with the foal. A business dispute preceded the theft.
The man and woman were arrested that same evening, spent a night in jail and then released. The case was dropped because, according to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the police investigation had not provided sufficient evidence. Much to Da Silva’s anger.
Criminal prosecution
She couldn’t stomach the fact that the husband and wife got away with the theft of her foal with impunity. The owner of Elvira started a so-called Article 12 procedure at the court to get the duo prosecuted. With success: the court in Leeuwarden recently ruled that the Public Prosecution Service must nevertheless proceed with criminal prosecution.
The Public Prosecution Service confirms that further investigation has been launched into the foal theft. “Now we look at what we have. What is there, what is extra needed. We still have to sort everything out,” says spokeswoman Melanie Kompier. Initially, the Public Prosecution Service assumes theft in association.
‘Super good news’
Da Silva calls the development “super good news”. “My lawyer called me this morning. These people cannot get away with this theft. Immediately after it became known that the man and woman would not be prosecuted, I started the Article 12 procedure together with my lawyer. That took a while.”
Elvira is doing well in the meantime, says Da Silva. “She now walks the land with her mother. She is growing and playing nicely. It’s going great.”
The police found the foal a day after the kidnapping. In order to get Elvira back, Da Silva went to court and they ruled in her favour. A few days after the kidnapping, an emotional reunion with the foal followed.