EDITORIAL

Premchai poaching case will be closely watched

By The Nation

 

Hunting in a wildlife sanctuary ought to carry severe penalties, but the accused is a prominent industrialist

 

Widespread dismay greeted news reports this week that the head of a prominent construction company had been arrested for hunting protected species in a Kanchanaburi wildlife reserve.

 

Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, will have his day in court, but the mere accusation that he was engaged in poaching has already added weight to suspicions about the wealthy elite and law enforcement’s willingness to pursue them for wrongdoing. It spurs fears that, because Premchai is rich and influential, he might never have to answer for the alleged crime.

 

Premchai was allegedly caught along with two other men and a woman in the western province’s Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in possession of carcasses of protected species – a black leopard, a pheasant and a barking deer. The’d had been cleared to pitch their tents in a designated camping area, but were later found to have moved into a restricted area.  

 

All four suspects have denied the charges against them and on Tuesday were released on bail of Bt150,000 each. None were seen shooting any animals, but they had in their possession two rifles (one mounted with a telescopic sight) and a shotgun, as well as dozens of rounds of ammunition.

 

Given the social and economic stature of the main suspect, concerns have been raised about possible interference in the police investigation.

 

Premchai is the son of Chaiyuth Karnasuta, co-founder of the Bt20.4-billion company that built Suvarnabhumi Airport and the BTS Skytrain rail system.

 

Observers are also wondering if Premchai – should he be convicted of poaching wild animals – would face punishment anywhere near the harsh prison sentence meted out to a rural northern couple two years ago for illegally picking mushrooms for their own consumption.

 

We find it frankly astonishing that, even in the 21st century, there are still people who want to hunt wildlife for sport – or for consumption in the belief that the meat of certain animals carries some sort of mystical medicinal benefits.

 

The latter might have been the case in the Premchai affair, given that the carcasses were butchered, the hides discarded and the meat neatly packaged.

 

Rich and powerful hunters, if they feel no shame about killing animals in general and protected wildlife in particular, could instead travel abroad to a country where it is legal and sign up for a round of big-game hunting.

 

Such adventures are expensive, but certainly within their reach, and they wouldn’t be risking their reputations through illegal poaching at home.

 

Forestry officials and park rangers involved in this case deserve high praise for their courage and integrity in enforcing the law to protect wildlife. And now they need to be protected from any possible repercussions.

 

We have seen reports of intense negotiations taking place before the police complaint was finally filed against these four suspects. Premchai and his companions were apprehended on Sunday, but the arrest was only formalised on Tuesday.

 

We hope that, despite the chief suspect’s stature, the matter will be handled straightforwardly and transparently. The authorities have insisted there will be no preferential treatment, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said anyone found guilty would be duly punished.

 

We consider such assurances a promise and hope it will be honoured. Justice must be done and “be seen to be done”, regardless of the status of the person accused.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30338250

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-08

The rich, affluent and the privileged were told that the law doesn't apply to them,

and if by mistake they get caught, they can pay and bargain their way out...

It is up to the courts of the people to send a message that it is not so, and all

should be made to abide and respect the laws of the land....

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It spurs fears that, because Premchai is rich and influential, he might never have to answer for the alleged crime.

That fear exists everywhere, but in Thailand it is a forgone conclusion most of the time.  Think the average Thai is getting pretty fed up with some institutions and people doing whatever like and disregarding the law.

As usual, nothing will happen to these people, all part of Thai culture, bow down to the mighty baht. 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

We consider such assurances a promise and hope it will be honoured.

Fat hopes. This is Thailand where the wealth and powerful gets away with murder and I meant that literally. I hope to be proven wrong but I wouldn’t wager on this. 

It seems that he mistakingly believes in some special benefits from eating the Leopard meat, when all it does is confirm to us all what a fat cat swine he is. 

Premchai poaching case will be closely .............watched?

Just like Prawit's was?

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said anyone found guilty would be duly punished

 

Usual nonsense from Prayut. That is the whole point - the influential are never found guilty. In some cases, like the Red Bull heir, never even see a court room. Prawit would also be punished if found guilty - what are the odds of a guilty verdict ever happening?

When i first came here i was glad to escape the political BS that is jammed down your thoats in oztstralia....But as time has gone by and with the incessant utter disreguard about anything but money that the ruling scum here show day after day, month after month, year on year..i wont say what trumph said about some countries but i am thinking it.