Thung Yai sanctuary chief files complaint against Premchai for attempted bribery

By The Nation

 

Premchai Karnasuta

 

CHIEF FOREST RANGER Wichian Chinwong has filed a bribery complaint against the president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), Premchai Karnasuta, who is accused along with three companions of poaching and possessing wildlife at the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province.

 

The four entered the sanctuary last Saturday before being captured by wildlife rangers on Sunday after they were seen possessing firearms, ammunition, as well as carcasses of wild animals, including the rare black leopard.

 

On Tuesday, they were charged with nine offences relating to illegal poaching and possessing wildlife in the World Heritage Site sanctuary. 

 

After giving information to the police on Thursday, Wichian was advised by deputy police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul to file a complaint for attempted bribery by Premchai and his companions with the police Anti-Corruption Division.

Pol Maj-General Kamol Rianpre-echa, a commander of the division, yesterday revealed that Wichian had filed the complaint against Premchai on Thursday night, accusing the ITD boss of trying to bribe the rangers in exchange for their release.

 

He said the division took up the case and would ask its heads to endorse the complaint before proceeding further.

 

Wichian told the anti-corruption police that during detention, Premchai tried to negotiate his release, asking whether there were ways to help. 

 

Wichian Chinwong

 

He reportedly said that anything the rangers wanted he would provide them, and would ask a person named “N” to contact them and talk further, the police were told. Wichian viewed this as an attempt to bribe the officials, and decided to file the complaint.

 

Srivara said under the law even a bribery attempt is a crime.

 

Srivara dismissed news on social media that he had charged Wichian for failing to collect entrance fees. Srivara said he had learned during interrogation that people could enter the sanctuary by paying fees at the entrance, or submitting a letter in advance demonstrating research purposes. This, he said, would entail no fees being charged, which is how Premchai had entered the sanctuary.

 

Srivara said he had forwarded the report of the findings to the National Parks Department to handle later, viewing this as an internal matter for the department. 

 

Wichian told Srivara that had not collected the fees as he was contacted by “a director” to grant permission to the group and a letter was prepared accordingly. Wildlife Conservation Bureau director Kanjana Nittaya was invited along with nine other people to give information to police. 

 

The director was reportedly asked by her former director, who is reportedly close to Premchai, to help facilitate the trip. Kanjana insisted that she gave advice in keeping with procedures, and vowed to resign if found guilty.

 

Sompoch Maneerat, the department’s spokesperson, and a former chief of the adjacent Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, said that the department understood the situation, but had decided to set up a fact-finding panel to ensure fair treatment to everyone.

 

Sompoch Maneerat

 

Deputy police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakhan said police investigators are in the process of collecting evidence, including fingerprints found on the seized rifles and the leopard carcass. Chalermkiat insisted that the case was being taken care of by several senior police officers, including Srivara, and there was no concern of possible interference in the case.

 

Chalermkiat said police had coordinated with immigration officials to ensure the accused did not flee the country. Srivara said the tycoon would be interrogated during the second request for bail.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338451

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-10

Whatever the real story is, he just looks guilty.

 

The thick plottens...

I hope something comes of this latest claim, but I'm not holding my breath.

13 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The director was reportedly asked by her former director, who is reportedly close to Premchai, to help facilitate the trip.

 

Close enough to borrow watches?

Don't be surprised if the whole damn lot of them are slaughtering  beautiful wild animals to be sold to the Chinese for their mumbo jumbo medicine, and 'exotic' cuisine. 

When the high paid lawyers get to work on this we will start to see the usual Thai story. This old man will see out the rest of his years before the case is over. The time honoured tradition will swing into action. Delay.

Who or what will be full of holes before this is over?

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Whatever the real story is, he just looks guilty.

 

Hiso's  there all guilty.

5 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Who or what will be full of holes before this is over?

That is a frightening but serious comment, it could be those lower down in the food-chain who are most likely to suffer.

Lodged a complaint for attempted bribery, wow has that ever been done before?

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Whatever the real story is, he just looks guilty.

 

Rather being full of beans, that git's full of black panther.

2 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Lodged a complaint for attempted bribery, wow has that ever been done before?

I think I've read that it's usually someone like the police doing it, when a motorist (for example) tries it on.

Nothing surprises that the head honcho of the parks is doing some ass covering with a claim of bribery to counter accusations he let them in free. Truth be know the wildlife inspectors were the guides for these armchair/eski Thai "big game-hunters".

Edited February 10, 20188 yr by Cadbury

I for one would be gob smacked had this Prechai didn't try to bribe anyone

and everyone in the old tradition of I'm rich, i can buy myself out of any

situation....

The junta will have to see this through, as the credibility and popularity is rather low..   The international press loves these real life corruptions stories with humble people standing up to the rich and powerful who are mostly above the law.  Also keeps the spotlight off the buffoonery of the current government.   

" and there was no concern of possible interference in the case."

and if that is true,it will be a first for Thailand.

regards worgeordie

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

" and there was no concern of possible interference in the case."

and if that is true,it will be a first for Thailand.

regards worgeordie

No concern of possible interference in the case. That's today's oxymoron, there have been quite a few this week.

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

I for one would be gob smacked had this Prechai didn't try to bribe anyone

and everyone in the old tradition of I'm rich, i can buy myself out of any

situation....

so what would you call 150,000 bail. for a very very rich man.

4 minutes ago, meatboy said:

so what would you call 150,000 bail. for a very very rich man.

petty cash

10 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

petty cash

More like pocket money

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

" and there was no concern of possible interference in the case."

and if that is true,it will be a first for Thailand.

regards worgeordie

Yep. Think the junta are just waiting quietly for this one to vanish off the front page of newspapers and indignant Thai FB users.

In the meantime, spotlight is on Fatboy.

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

" and there was no concern of possible interference in the case."

and if that is true,it will be a first for Thailand.

regards worgeordie

It could be that this case is different. Even if only in the short term. Witchai is getting a lot of important support.

Maybe the support is coming from the very top as Prayut must be delighted that the subject of Prawit's watches is being pushed into history.

Wonder if "I-Am-Above-The-Law-Syndrome" is a genetic thing...?

There will be a few restaurants going out of business if! he does indeed go to jail, appears to like his groceries & fresh meat!

Wichian Chinwong has filed a bribery complaint against the president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), Premchai Karnasuta

 

I bow to you Sir. You have high morals and should be the Thai Prime Minister.

21 hours ago, yellowboat said:

The junta will have to see this through, as the credibility and popularity is rather low..   The international press loves these real life corruptions stories with humble people standing up to the rich and powerful who are mostly above the law.  Also keeps the spotlight off the buffoonery of the current government.   

I imagine these guys will have hunted in the park before with no adverse consequences. The cynic in me suggests that someone from very high up ordered that they be taken down this time so that the publicity deflects attention from another high profile corruption case.

27 minutes ago, bangkokfrog said:

I imagine these guys will have hunted in the park before with no adverse consequences. The cynic in me suggests that someone from very high up ordered that they be taken down this time so that the publicity deflects attention from another high profile corruption case.

Hmm, I find your comment a little over the top conspiracy theory,  However I agree watch boy has dropped from the headlines. 

 

We'll see if the fat shooter can get his fan club out in the street?

Enlisting the help of Immigration officials, is no help at all really. If he is a flight risk then then bail should not have been granted. 

 

So bloody simple. 

34 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Enlisting the help of Immigration officials, is no help at all really. If he is a flight risk then then bail should not have been granted. 

 

So bloody simple. 

There you go, using ferang logic.

Granting bail gives the opportunity for face saving all round. We wouldn't want the ITD boss in jail would we? Well most of us would, but all those higher up Thais probably wouldn't.

 

As you say, it doesn't stop him being a flight risk. He could get a foreign passport using the Shinawatra's approved supplier.

38 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

Enlisting the help of Immigration officials, is no help at all really. If he is a flight risk then then bail should not have been granted. 

 

So bloody simple. 

Correct - Immigration, about as useful as  tits on  a bull, as recently demonstrated with the flight of a certain ex-PM, however  more than likely an arranged slip-up.