Taipei -
Taiwan police on Thursday turned an American pastor over for prosecution for allegedly shooting stray cats with an air gun, killing at least one cat and injuring another. "After questioning him, we turned him over for prosecution on charges of cruelty to animals and illegal use of firearms," a police officer from the Gushan Police Bureau in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, said by phone.
Under the Animal Protection Act, if pastor John Sisk is convicted of animal cruelty, he could face a maximum one-year sentence and a fine of up to 1 million Taiwan dollars (30,000 US dollars), the police officer, who gave only his surname Lin, said.
"The penalty for using firearms will be decided according to the fire power of the gun he used," he added.
Police questioned Sisk, who is from
South Carolina and is serving the Assembly of God church in Kaohsiung, after receiving a complaint from Animal Rescue Team Taiwan (ARTT).
ARTT began investigating Sisk's alleged cruelty to cats last week after being tipped off by his neighbours.
"We found the body of one cat, shot dead by Sisk, and saw another cat shot and injured by Sisk," Ni Ching-tai, an ARTT member, said.
The neighbours said Sisk has shot dead another cat and buried the body.
When ARTT members questioned Sisk, he admitted "trying to scare the cats" because they ate his fish and birds and disturbed his sleep, and blamed local residents for not looking after their cats.
The Assembly of God church apologized for Sisk's behaviour and offered to cover the medical bills for the injured cat.
