2 men found guilty of animal abuse at sheep farm in northern Israel

A magistrate’s court has found a sheep trader and the manager of a sheep farm at Kibbutz Geva in northern Israel guilty of animal abuse.

Despite the prosecution’s request that they be sent to prison, the two are given suspended sentences and fines as part of a plea bargain.

The court in Beit She’an sentences the manager to a three-month suspended sentence and a fine of NIS 40,000 ($12,300). The trader is given a one-month suspended sentence and a fine of NIS 30,000 ($9,200).

The case, which came to light following an investigation by the animal rights organization Animals Now that was broadcast by the Kan public broadcaster, was the first to see charges leveled against the owners of a commercial farm, as well as the farm’s workers. The charge against the kibbutz was subsequently dropped as part of the plea bargain.

The abuses included throwing live one-day old lambs into the trash, failing to treat sick and injured animals, violent and aggressive behavior and unsanitary slaughter.

According to Animals Now, the farm manager has retained his job.