An original translation from Berliner Morgenpost.

ZOOPHILIA CASE IN BERLIN
Man allegedly sexually assaulted pony in Görlitzer Park
A babysitter with a young child saw the scene, photographed the man and saw to his arrest
November 10., 2017
Sebastian Geisler

A young man allegedly sexually assaulted a pony of the “Children’s Farm” in Görlitzer Park. An employee of the institution confirms this to Berliner Morgenpost. The incident occurred on Friday of last week around 3 PM. Amanda F. (name changed by our editorial staff) described the incident to Berliner Morgenpost. “My babysitter took a walk with our son through Görlitzer Park. They had to witness the man sexually assaulting the pony.” Her babysitter told her about the incident, and also spoke to the so-called “park runners”. She did not want to comment on the incident. The scene was too traumatic.

The employee of the children’s farm tells Berliner Morgenpost that the babysitter quick-witted took a photo of the man as he was committing the deed, and immediately contacted employees of the children’s farm. They consulted the “park-runners” who are there to ensure safety in the Görlitzer Park*. The employee called the police. The young man realized that his deed did not go unnoticed, backed off of the animal, and disappeared in the park for the moment.

The man received a house ban and a police complaint

The “park runners” searched and found the man by the photo, and held him until the police arrived. Police then recorded the man’s personal particulars. “We banned him from the premises”, says the employee. “Should he return, we will report this. We have never had an incident like that before.” They filed charges at the police. The police confirmed the charges for violating the animals’ welfare law, and “causing public nuisance by sexual acts” against a 23-year-old native of Syria.

The children’s zoo is particularly popular with young children. They have two ponies, two donkeys, half a dozen sheep and goats, and ten chickens, ducks and rabbits each. “All around the year, we have such positive things happening here”, says the employee. “It is a pity that now, we are being associated with such an incident”.

The punishment for “causing a public nuisance” in Germany is, according to paragraph 183 a of the criminal code, imprisonment of up to a year, or a fine. Violating the animals’ protection law is punished with a prison sentence of up to three years, or a fine, if the animal was caused significant pain.

Translator’s note:
* “park runners”: after giving up all attempts to get the drug dealing in Görlitzer Park under control, the city of Berlin now employs Turkish and Arab street workers, who patrol the Görlitzer Park, to engage in dialogue on an equal footing with the 180-200 drug dealers (largely refugees from African countries) and encourage a friendlier atmosphere (Tagesspiegel: Auf Augenhöhe mit den Drogendealern).