Rifles, Ivory Found In Construction Magnate's Home

[snoop1130]

Rifles, Ivory Found In Construction Magnate's Home

By Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

 

A park ranger poses for a picture with Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development, after his arrest. Photo: Department of National Parks

 

BANGKOK — A well-publicized raid on the home of a powerful construction firm president’s home turned up ivory and weapons which officers said were all in order.

 

After a three-hour search of the home of Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development, police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division found five rifles and a pair of elephant tusks. After being briefly held Monday, Premchai was charged yesterday with poaching wildlife in a national park.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/02/07/rifles-ivory-found-construction-magnates-home/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-2-7

[Cadbury]

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

A well-publicized raid on the home of a powerful construction firm president’s

"Powerful" sums it all up! He is a protected species unlike the animals and birds he killed.

[Briggsy]

This is out of the ordinary. Has he or his company stepped on somebody's toes?

[Bluespunk]

17 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

After a three-hour search of the home of Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development, police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division found five rifles and a pair of elephant tusks. After being briefly held Monday, Premchai was charged yesterday with poaching wildlife in a national park.

Scum.

[Thian]

Is it possible to have legal elephanttusks at home? with papers or numbers?

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, Thian said:

Is it possible to have legal elephanttusks at home? with papers or numbers?

No. It is all proscribed.

 

Oh, wait...

Edited February 7, 2018 by NanLaew

[Fish Head Soup]

4 hours ago, Thian said:

Is it possible to have legal elephanttusks at home? with papers or numbers?

Yes unfortunately it is. In Feb 2013 the Word Wildlife Fund handed a a global petition with more than half a million signatures to then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra calling for her government to ban the trade of ivory in Thailand but she never did. Yingluck responded by saying she recognised the importance of elephant conservation and would take the plea into consideration.

[webfact]

Premchai raid nets weapons, ivory

By The Nation

 

 

Homes searched in poaching probe as senior police pledge to charge offenders.
 

POLICE FOUND a collection of weapons as well as four pairs of ivory tusks as they searched a residence belonging to Italian-Thai Development (ITD) president Premchai Karnasuta yesterday as part of their investigation into the tycoon’s alleged poaching in a wildlife sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province.

 

 

The search was conducted simultaneously in six locations, including in the capital at a residential compound in Soi Soonwichai 3 in Huay Kwang district as well as in Ratchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Kanchanaburi provinces, where the three other suspects live. 

 

Found at Premchai’s residence in Bangkok were 23 rifles, 13 shotguns, two pistols, 11 rifle scopes and more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition. Police seized the weapons for examination to see if they had any connection with the alleged poaching.

 

 

Premchai and his three co-accused were arrested early on Monday at a campsite in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province, for allegedly poaching protected animals in prohibited areas. Confiscated from the campsite were the carcasses of protected animals and rifles loaded with ammunition. 

 

“Those who left DNA or fingerprints on the confiscated evidence will be prosecuted,” said deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Rangsibhramakul. “All of those who own the guns will also face justice.” 

 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had instructed police to handle the case honestly in accordance with the law, Srivara said. If any government officials were found to be involved in the poaching, they would also be prosecuted without discrimination, he said.

 

“The point is, why did the forest rangers not arrest them in the first place once they realised that the group was conducting illegal hunting?” Srivara told reporters yesterday. 

 

ITD is a major construction firm that has obtained government concessions to build many mega-infrastructure projects

throughout the country. The company is also one of the biggest winners of rail-track construction contracts worth several tens of billions of baht. Contracts include the first section of the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project and the Purple Line, Orange Line and Red Line transit projects, as well as the phase-three Laem Chabang port project.

 

 

On Tuesday evening, Premchai said the trip last weekend was the second time he had visited Thung Yai. The first time dated back 30 or 40 years ago when Khao Laem Dam, the former name of Vajiralongkorn Dam, was being constructed, he said. 

 

“This time I came here for leisure because I’m old and will eventually die one day. I’m not a regular visitor to the wildlife sanctuary,” the 63-year-old tycoon said in his first comments to the media after he had been released by Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court.

 

Premchai and three others suspects – Premchai’s driver, maid and close aide – were released on bail on Tuesday. He denied all charges, saying that he was not involved in hunting. However, he briefly told a social media page |E-Chan yesterday: “I’m sorry and I might have partly done something wrong.” 

 

The campsite Premchai allegedly used is in a restricted area where hunting and camping are banned. At the site, wildlife authorities found the remains of protected animals including a muntjac deer, pheasant and black leopard, as well as rifles and shotguns that police said were hidden in the undergrowth.

 

Meanwhile, Damrong Pidet, former director-general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plants department, said he believed more than three people had accompanied Premchai, because the tycoon would have needed someone familiar with Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary to help him on his alleged hunting trip. 

 

Without help from local hunters, Premchai could not have survived in the thick forest, particularly during the night, Damrong said. As an inexperienced person, he would have needed professional help to stay safe.

 

The case has ignited criticism, with many people saying the business executive of a leading firm was supposed to abstain from illegal activities.

 

The SET-listed ITD’s ethical code of conduct cites clearly that it is friendly to the environment. However, the Security and Exchange Commission said the charge is personal and had nothing to do with the administration of the business. 

 

In another development, Thai Animal Guardians Association founder Roger Lohanan said yesterday that he intended to file a lawsuit with Thong Pha Phum police against Premchai and the three others for allegedly violating the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals Act. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338246

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-08

[Deli]

Sick - leave to S'pore coming soon

[yellowboat]

11 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Scum.

Rich, elitist, ill mannered scumbag. 

[saakura]

This is something extraordinary and very well coordinated. In Thailand, ordinary forest rangers do not cross paths with such powerful persons without being ordered. And then the photographs & voice recordings of the arrest being leaked immediately, the swift raid on his premises in various locations around the country being widely publicised by taking the press and TV cameramen. Could be a business rivalry to discredit Ital-Thai or he has gone foul of some very powerful group.

[cornishcarlos]

5 minutes ago, saakura said:

This is something extraordinary and very well coordinated. In Thailand, ordinary forest rangers do not cross paths with such powerful persons without being ordered. And then the photographs & voice recordings of the arrest being leaked immediately, the swift raid on his premises in various locations around the country being widely publicised by taking the press and TV cameramen. Could be a business rivalry to discredit Ital-Thai or he has gone foul of some very powerful group.

 

Elephant tusks and jaguar skins trumps "borrowed" watches every time.

We watch the left hand while the right hand switches cards :)

[keithpa]

12 hours ago, Cadbury said:

"Powerful" sums it all up! He is a protected species unlike the animals and birds he killed.

, Premchai was charged yesterday with poaching wildlife in a national park. (Protected?")

[worgeordie]

The first report said "5 rifles and a pair of elephant tusks,"

now its 2 pair and 36 guns,he must be breeding them.

 

regards worgeordie

[samran]

12 hours ago, Briggsy said:

This is out of the ordinary. Has he or his company stepped on somebody's toes?

I recall - but may be wrong - in the aftermath of the coup he was called up for a bit of a chat and rehabilitation for a few days with the new overlords. 

 

Ital thai is unfortunately one of the biggest construction firms here and given the government need a few wins on the infrastructure front they need him (well they need each other), but given he’s been sailing close to the wind politically for a while perhaps the government feels like they can rumble him a bit to remind him just what they do think of him. 

[Borzandy]

every day the brown envelope becomes thicker

[ballpoint]

18 minutes ago, samran said:

I recall - but may be wrong - in the aftermath of the coup he was called up for a bit of a chat and rehabilitation for a few days with the new overlords. 

 

Ital thai is unfortunately one of the biggest construction firms here and given the government need a few wins on the infrastructure front they need him (well they need each other), but given he’s been sailing close to the wind politically for a while perhaps the government feels like they can rumble him a bit to remind him just what they do think of him. 

He's the buddy of a certain Thai person living in Dubai.  They were likely glad to get this opportunity to remind him of who's the daddy now.  No doubt there will be a fine, and a background warning about keeping out of politics, and Ital Thai will carry on as usual.  Perhaps with a special discount given to government projects, or rather, same price but bigger cut to the minister general involved.  He'll probably be allowed to keep the panther skin as well.

Edited February 8, 2018 by ballpoint

[nobodysfriend]

Shame on that ugly fat bastard .

But thanks to journalists who have the courage to publish that story .

It should be followed closely until it ends , hopefully with a prison sentence .

There should be no more place in this world for these horrible egocentric people .

[yellowboat]

12 hours ago, Thian said:

Is it possible to have legal elephanttusks at home? with papers or numbers?

Believe there is a test that shows when the animal was killed.  If it is before a certain time, I think it is legal.   Some people do own these grotesque things legally. 

[samran]

20 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

He's the buddy of a certain Thai person living in Dubai.  They were likely glad to get this opportunity to remind him of who's the daddy now.  No doubt there will be a fine, and a background warning about keeping out of politics, and Ital Thai will carry on as usual.  Perhaps with a special discount given to government projects, or rather, same price but bigger cut to the minister general involved.  He'll probably be allowed to keep the panther skin as well.

I see that he as given the mandatory pathetic wai at the police station as well. He’ll be in the clear in no time. 

 

 

[Baerboxer]

13 hours ago, Thian said:

Is it possible to have legal elephanttusks at home? with papers or numbers?

 

Yes. They brought in a rule that anyone with ivory had to get it registered sometime ago. It wouldn't be a problem for someone of this standing.

[smutcakes]

46 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

He's the buddy of a certain Thai person living in Dubai.  They were likely glad to get this opportunity to remind him of who's the daddy now.  No doubt there will be a fine, and a background warning about keeping out of politics, and Ital Thai will carry on as usual.  Perhaps with a special discount given to government projects, or rather, same price but bigger cut to the minister general involved.  He'll probably be allowed to keep the panther skin as well.

Hes a buddy of all sides. Ital Thai have done well through all Governments and like the Chinese businesses go with whichever way the political wind is flowing. They have been in Government for 4 years and 3 years prior to that, in this time they have been picking up record numbers of infrastructure project contracts. I am sure if this was in any related to perceived closeness to TS, which i just don't see, then they would have pulled the plug on giving so many contracts already, or nailed them for something else.

 

Something is definitely going on behind the scenes, first they selected that massage parlor, then this is picked up (presumably his enjoyment of hunting is well known in upper circles). Looks like there is a bit if bickering behind the scenes and some tit for tat revenge. Perhaps these huge cash generating businesses are used to fund things......

[mr_lob]

The coppers must love cases like this - they mustn't be able to sleep at night thinking about how much they want to be put in that brown envelope and what they are going to spend it on 

[anon467848]

1 hour ago, samran said:

I see that he as given the mandatory pathetic wai at the police station as well. He’ll be in the clear in no time. 

 

 

He's forgotten to declare a visit to the temple, shave his hair and make merit for his indiscretions? That's normally the standard MO for HiSo Thai pr?cks when they are publicly caught breaking the law.... 

Edited February 8, 2018 by merlin2002

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, samran said:

I see that he as given the mandatory pathetic wai at the police station as well.

 

This is called the "perp wai" here.

 

I'm guessing there will not be a "re-enactment" with Premchai pointing at things he shot?

 

And that weapons cache puts those that the Junta "finds" associated with red-shirts to shame.

 

If this amount of firepower were found in the northeast, the elections would have to be delayed another year.

[Cadbury]

2 hours ago, keithpa said:

Premchai was charged yesterday with poaching wildlife in a national park. (Protected?")

Really! Do you truly believe that in Thailand charging a "protected" person means they are likely to be convicted. You're naivety is exposed.

Thai justice history is littered with "protected", "influential" and wealthy people who have been charged with an offence but unexplainably have never been brought to trial let alone found guilty. Within the Thai judicial system the formula is all too familiar:

money + status = perverted justice.

[keithpa]

21 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Really! Do you truly believe that in Thailand charging a "protected" person means they are likely to be convicted. You're naivety is exposed.

Thai justice history is littered with "protected", "influential" and wealthy people who have been charged with an offence but unexplainably have never been brought to trial let alone found guilty. Within the Thai judicial system the formula is all too familiar:

money + status = perverted justice.

"Really! Do you truly believe that in Thailand charging a "protected" person means they are likely to be convicted."  Did I say that, did I?   "You're naivety is exposed". Put brain in gear before engaging mouth. I state nothing but fact, he was charged, I only deal in facts, not innuendo.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

16 hours ago, Cadbury said:

"Powerful" sums it all up! He is a protected species unlike the animals and birds he killed.

They'll make an example of this guy for sure.

[Cadbury]

Just now, FitnessHealthTravel said:

They'll make an example of this guy for sure.

I hope so too but like many other "rich and famous" Thais he could quite likely escape with a harmless admonishment. After an envelope exchange that is. Or he may do like some others and conveniently escape to distant lands. Being one of the heads of the Italian-Thai Group it is likely he may be required in Italy for discussions.

[samran]

1 hour ago, merlin2002 said:

He's forgotten to declare a visit to the temple, shave his hair and make merit for his indiscretions? That's normally the standard MO for HiSo Thai pr?cks when they are publicly caught breaking the law.... 

Don’t be daft. Extreme measures such as those are reserved for when you cause major road fatalities.