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First indictment issued in Spain for bird electrocution due to unsafe power lines
Legal action launched following the deaths of protected bird species
In a landmark case for Spain, prosecutor Miguel de Mata in Murcia has issued the first indictment against the head of an energy network for bird electrocutions.
The case follows warnings from Antonio Vercher, head prosecutor of the Environmental Unit, who earlier highlighted the hazards to birdlife posed by inadequately insulated power lines.
De Mata attributes alleged animal abuse to the president of the Virgen del Rosario Civil Society, whose infrastructure reportedly caused the deaths of red-billed chough, a common buzzard, and several other protected birds.
The prosecutor argues these incidents breached Article 340 bis of Spain’s Penal Code, introduced in 2023 to address substantial harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
De Mata seeks a 15-month prison sentence, along with a four-year ban on animal-related activities for the accused. Alternatively, he suggests a one-year, nine-month term and fines for “a continued crime against fauna by omission.”
This case has triggered a broader investigation of power line violations across Murcia and Jumilla, where environmental agents have documented numerous bird deaths over recent years.
Environmental groups, such as Naturalists of the Southeast, have long advocated for prosecutorial intervention and are pressing for stricter penalties on offending companies, calling for immediate action to mitigate harm to Spain’s vulnerable bird populations.
For more information, news and what’s on in your area visit our homepage at the Murcia Today
Image: ANSE
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