Olympic scandal – Attorney General’s office closes investigations
Annika Schleu has to pay some money to a charitable organization
Source: pa / dpa / Marijan Murat
Annika Schleu failed the modern pentathlon at the 2021 Summer Olympics due to her unwillingness to ride a horse, but paid it off with tears. The German Animal Welfare Association has filed a criminal complaint for cruelty to animals. The investigation has now been discontinued.
nAfter the Olympic scandal surrounding modern pentathlete Annika Schleu and national coach Kim Reisner, the Potsdam Public Prosecutor’s Office closed its investigation into animal cruelty. According to a statement posted on the authority’s website, the defendants had only a short-term impact on horse riding at the Tokyo Summer Games and were in an exceptional physical and psychological condition during the Olympic competition.
“The competition horse was not injured either.” Schleu and Raisner have to pay a sum of money for a charitable organization. The Public Prosecutor’s Office did not want to provide any information about the amount for privacy and data protection reasons. The investigation will only be closed when the two of you have paid.
“No risk of repetition,” justifies the prosecutor
Schlio’s horse had been rejected at the Olympics in Tokyo, and Reisner had asked a tearful Berliner to use a whip with the phrase “Hit it right!” The German Animal Welfare Association had filed a criminal complaint against Schleu and trainer Raisner after the incidents. The investigation was conducted because of the defendant’s place of residence in Potsdam.
Pictures of Shiliu (right) and national coach Kim Reisner in tears have gone viral all over the world
Source: pa / dpa / Marijan Murat
It added that “in light of the negligible impact of the crime and against the backdrop of ongoing media reports, it can be assumed that the preliminary proceedings will have a sufficient impact on defendants who have not yet been represented under criminal law.” “For this reason, and also because of the planned future preparation of the modern pentathlon without equestrian sports, there is no risk of recurrence.” The World Federation announced in the fall that horseback riding will be replaced by another sport after the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
“The hiring was done with the consent of our client,” said Raisner’s attorney Simon Bergman. It is not related to the admission of guilt. The decisive factor was that the lengthy investigative and legal process that would burden everyone involved could be avoided. This negates the guilt charge, so that Raisner can continue to consider himself innocent.
