Ralph Hahnheuser, who has for years been a spokesman for Australian animal rights group Animal Liberation (SA), appeared in court in January to answer charges of contaminating the feed of sheep intended for export.
Hahnheuser was arrested on November 20 after he added ham to a feedlot used by 70,000 sheep intended for export. Most of the sheep were intended to export to Middle Eastern countries where there are strong religious taboos against eating pork.
In interviews, Hahnheuser has said he is proud of his actions which he says were necessary to highlight issues surrounding live export of animals. In November he told the Sunday Mail,
This is the action we needed to have in relation to live exports. It’s drawn international attention. It’s going to be fascinating what the courts make of all of this.
Well, under Australian law knowingly feeding animal products to sheep or cattle is punishable by a fine of up to $24,000 and/or two years in jail. So, given that Hahnheuser readily admits his actions, it would seem likely that the courts will make swift work of it. At his court appearance, the prosecutor in the case told the court it would seek $1.4 million in compensatory damages.
Hahnheuser is not stranger to legal problems, having been involved in at least 10 criminal or civil cases over the years by his own admission.
Sources:
I’m no economic terrorist. Chris Pippos, Sunday Mail (South Australia), November 30, 2003.
This act of sabotage costing $50,000 a day. Alison Rehn, The Advertiser (Australia), November 21, 2003.
Sheep trade activist in court. Eve Lamb, The Standard (Australia), January 8, 2004.