Construction tycoon gets 2 years 14 months jail for poaching
Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court in Kanchanaburi province on Thursday (December 12) read the appeal court's ruling in the criminal case filed by Thong Pha Phum district attorney against Italian Thai Development president Premchai Karnasuta and 3 accomplices for trespassing and poaching in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary on February 4-6, 2018.
The suspects were arrested with assorted guns and ammunition and the carcasses of a black panther, a barking deer, and a Kalij pheasant, the latter a protected species.
Premchai arrived at court on 8.50am together with his lawyers and proceeded to the hearing chamber immediately. The other 3 defendants in this case, Yong Dodkreu, Nathee Riamsaen and Thanee Thummas were also present.
The appeal court upheld the ruling of a lower court and increased Premchai's sentence from 16 months to 2 years 14 months jail time on 3 charges: Poaching wild animals in a wildlife sanctuary, possessing the carcass of protected animal (Kalij pheasant), and carrying firearms in public place. His 3 accomplices were also found guilty in similar charges and got the following sentences: Yong got 2 years 17 months jail time, Nathee got 1 year 8 months jail time with 2 years suspension and Bt40,000 fine, and Thanee got 2 years 21 months jail time. The court also ordered 4 defendants to pay Bt2 million as damage compensation to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.