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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Victorian MP's office sorry for mistakenly saying alleged koala killer had died

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Victorian MP's office mistakenly announced the death of a man under investigation for animal cruelty.
  • The man was investigated for allegedly dragging a koala by a rope behind his vehicle, leading to the animal's euthanasia.
  • The MP's office apologized for the misinformation, stating the person in question is alive.

A Victorian MP's office has apologized after mistakenly informing an activist that a man under investigation for alleged animal cruelty had died. The man is being investigated for dragging a koala by a rope behind his vehicle in Koroit, in March. The injured koala was subsequently euthanized.

An email from the office of state Labor member for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora, initially stated, "Unfortunately, the person involved in this incident is now deceased." This incorrect information was widely shared on social media.

Unfortunately, we were misinformed and passed that misinformation on. The person in question has not passed away. Apologies for the confusion.

— Jacinta Ermacora's officeAn email from the office of state Labor member for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora, admitting to passing on incorrect information about the death of a man under investigation for animal cruelty.

However, the office later corrected the statement, admitting they had been "misinformed and passed that misinformation on." They apologized for the confusion, clarifying that the person in question is alive. The Victorian Conservation Regulator confirmed it is still investigating the incident, though no charges have been laid. Police had previously interviewed a 67-year-old man in connection with the incident.

Unfortunately, the person involved in this incident is now deceased.

— Jacinta Ermacora's officeAn initial email response to an activist inquiring about charges in the animal cruelty case.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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