Premchai faces charge for possessing African elephant tusks
Embattled construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta, who is facing nine poaching-related charges, could face an additional charge after DNA tests on two pairs of elephant tusks seized from his Bangkok residence were found to be from African elephants.
A source said possession of the tusks violated the wildlife reservation and protection Act and carries a maximum of four years in jail or a fine of Bt40,000 or both.
Police will soon file the charges against Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development company, who was arrested earlier this month with three companions in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province. Police found remains of protected animals and hunting rifles at his campsite.
The same source said that the two tusks were taken for registration to the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants department by his wife Kanitha Wittayanun. The department had provided a grace period for registration for those who had such tusks and warned those who failed to register would face prosecution and seizure of the tusks.
Kanitha allegedly registered the tusks as from domestic elephants. Police will seek a meeting with her concerning the registration.
Premchai’s campsite in the World Heritage Site was situated in a banned area. He has denied all the charges and is out on bail.
The public was outraged after police found butchered remains of a black leopard and its tail in a soup pot at the campsite and have called for maximum penalties for billionaire businessman Premchai.
There have been widespread concerns that Premchai may evade prosecution as he is connected to powerful figures.
One of his associates had sought permission from a wildlife department chief for Premchai to enter the wildlife sanctuary, claiming he was a nature lover. However the campsite was not in the site allowed and protected animals were killed.
Sompote Maneerat, spokesman of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Department, yesterday said that an investigation had cleared two senior officials, Kanchana Nittaya and Wichien Chinnawong, of involvement in Premchai’s alleged poaching activities.
Both were found to have only done their duty when they granted permission for the tycoon to enter the wildlife sanctuary.
“They are not involved in the alleged poaching,” he said.