Podgorica, (MINA) – Bjelo Polje police officers filed criminal charges against R.B. and S.B. from that town on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of transmitting an infectious disease to animals, by knowingly concealing the occurrence of avian flu on their farms, which led to its spread.

According to the press release from the Police Administration, criminal charges were also filed against the companies “B.C.” and “F.B.” from Bijelo Polje, in which R.B. and S.B are responsible persons.

The police said that R.B. and S.B. suspected of having committed the criminal offenses of knowingly concealing the presence of an infectious disease in animals during February.

The Police Administration said that around 13,000 laying hens from the S.B.’s farm were taken to the landfill and about 5,000 from the R.B.’s farm.

“Which led to the spread of the infectious disease H5N1 to other smaller farms and households, causing material damage, exceeding EUR 25,000”, the press release said.