From Abuse of Office to Animal Cruelty
The trigger was criticism from recreational hunters regarding hunting practices and the hunting authority.
A delegation from the Standeskommission held talks with the recreational hunters of Appenzell Innerrhoden on 8 June 2021.
24 allegations against the game warden
Tensions have existed for some time within the recreational hunting community and between part of the recreational hunting community and the hunting authority. In a letter to the canton, two of the five voluntary hunting supervisors accused the Innerrhoden hunting administrator and game warden of, among other things, abuse of office and animal cruelty. There are 24 allegations in total.
The Standeskommission had the 24 listed cases examined by an external expert. The external expert concluded that there were no criminal acts or professional negligence whatsoever.
U. N. is both game warden and hunting administrator. Here we need to consider whether it would not be better to split these functions between two people.
Landammann Roland Dähler
Criminal complaints and official secrecy
Update 18.12.2021: Criminal complaints have been filed with the public prosecutor's office against developer Ruedi Ulmann and against the hunting and fisheries administrator. To examine the allegations, the Standeskommission has appointed an extraordinary public prosecutor. The Standeskommission has decided to release both individuals concerned from their obligation of official secrecy with regard to the allegations made against them.
