Police detain man accused of threatening municipal official

Police detained a 41-year-old man in the town of Mõisaküla on Thursday after he allegedly threatened a representative of Mulgi Municipality, ERR reported. A court later remanded him in custody for two months.

Municipal employees told police that the man had sent several threatening letters overnight. After analysing the letters and the man’s background, officers concluded that a politician’s life could be in real danger. Rapid-response officers were called in, and the man was detained at about 1 p.m.

Hendrik Ebber, a special investigations officer with the Viljandi investigation group, said the threats appeared to have originated in a conflict between the suspect and the municipality. The municipality had sent him a notice concerning the upkeep of his residence because it did not meet the requirements for a densely populated settlement.

Ebber said the notice appeared to have angered the suspect and prompted him to threaten the municipality and a politician personally. Police said they assess all such threats carefully because messages and abuse sent by email or social media can lead to real-world actions.

Prosecutors sought the man’s detention because of his unpredictable behaviour and the need to prevent possible crimes. The court granted the request on Friday afternoon.

Prosecutor Andraš Tšitškan said the suspect’s conduct went beyond insulting messages or an emotional outburst. Messages sent to a senior municipal employee contained specific death threats and an accompanying image, making them credible and serious, the prosecutor said.

Criminal proceedings have been launched under the section concerning the use of violence against a public official in connection with the performance of official duties.