The preliminary investigation was initiated after a review of TV4's Cold Facts, in which footage from hidden cameras illegally set up by the Animal Rights Alliance showed dairy cows being beaten, trampled and jumped on.
The indictment covers events between January and November last year. The indictment describes, among other things, how one of the defendants placed a lit cigarette in the mouth of a cow that was lying down and had been given sedatives, reports SVT Nyheter Småland.
The indictment describes the environment on the farm as heavily polluted and the animals are said to have been emaciated and injured. In addition, one of the animals was killed in an improper manner.
The defendants admit the events but deny any wrongdoing.
