A man in Piteå is facing charges for allegedly cutting down 20 pine trees on municipal land. Despite the municipality's demand for 200,000 SEK in damages, the man denies any wrongdoing, claiming the action was in preparation for a forced municipal water and sewage connection.
Man Accused of Tree Theft Denies Charges in Piteå
Man Accused of Tree Theft Denies Charges in Piteå
A man has been charged with theft after allegedly cutting down around 20 pine trees on Piteå municipality's land. The municipality is demanding 200,000 SEK in damages, but the man refuses to pay, reports Piteå-Tidningen.
The municipality filed a police report following the logging, which took place last year. The man admits to the sequence of events but denies any crime and will not accept any claims from the municipality.
He states that the logging was done because the municipality plans to install new water and sewage systems that all residents must connect to.
According to him, he was merely preparing for what the municipality has imposed on them in the form of forced connection, as stated in the preliminary investigation.
However, a representative from the municipality says there are no immediate plans to dig up the sewage system, indicating that the accused man has "jumped the gun significantly."