Wildlife damage in Premchai case ‘worth Bt12.75m’

[webfact]

Wildlife damage in Premchai case ‘worth Bt12.75m’

By The Nation

 

 

THE NATIONAL Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has assessed the damage allegedly caused by construction magnate Premchai Karnasuta and three other suspects to the ecology of Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary to be worth Bt12.75 million, a source said yesterday.

 

This amount will be included in a civil lawsuit filed against Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, and his three companions, who were arrested at the park in Kanchanaburi province in early February.

 

This amount will be included in a civil lawsuit filed against Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, and his three companions, who were arrested at the park in Kanchanaburi province in early February.

 

Premchai and his companions have already been charged with nine criminal counts related to poaching after the remains of protected animals, including a black leopard, were found at their campsite.

 

Public prosecutors recommended that police initiate the civil lawsuit against the suspects and seek compensation for damages.

 

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the damage was initially set at Bt3 million, but that sum was reviewed by a committee chaired by department deputy director-general Jongklai Worapongsathorn. Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, chief of the department’s Phaya Sua wildlife enforcement taskforce, who led the raid and arrested the suspects, was a member of the committee.

 

The damage included the expense to authorities of breeding, caring for and returning to the wild protected animals to replace those that were killed, as well as subsequent efforts to ensure their welfare.

 

 

The same source said expenses related to the black leopard were estimated to be Bt12 million, while the remaining Bt750,000 was for a wild boar and kalij pheasant.

 

The department has already submitted its report to Kanchanaburi police, who will forward it to public prosecutors.

 

Meanwhile, deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Rangsibhramanakul said police had also decided to seek a charge against Premchai concerning two pairs of tusks seized from his house.

 

Permits for the tusks suggested that they were from domestic elephants, but tests proved they were of African origin. As authorities had not found customs records for the tusks, they were seeking to charge Premchai for violating customs laws. The tusks are estimated to be worth Bt4 million. 

 

Police have already sent a docket concerning the nine criminal charges against Premchai, who is free on bail, to prosecutors. However, the file was sent back with a request for more information.

 

Srivara also lashed out at criticism that the request showed police had not been working hard enough. He said police had only just received from the Wildlife Department results of DNA tests on the animal remains found in a garbage bag at Premchai’s campsite.

 

“It is normal practice that prosecutors ask for more information. We’ve just received DNA results from the department, so we will add those to the case before re-submitting it to prosecutors,” he said. 

 

He warned people who criticised police to express their opinions “within boundaries”, while threatening that police might bring lawsuits against critics.

 

“Maybe they [critics] have nothing to do, or are jobless, so they criticise us,” Srivara said.

 

Premchai and the three others suspects yesterday reported themselves to Kanchanaburi police as ordered by the court. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341800

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-27

[kannot]

12  million for a  Billionaire, oh yeah I bet hes   shi tting his pants, most likely with laughter, probably  buffing up another gun right now for the next trip, people pay more than that to go shoot elephants in Africa now dont they. Heres  an idea how about 5  years in Jail

sounds to me this is  more like "how much can we screw out of him for  ourselves" and how  much of that goes  missing, judging by the  current scandal of  robbing from the poor , most  will vanish

Edited March 26, 2018 by kannot

[Somtamnication]

To a nature reserve fund or to the police / prosecutors? I so confew!

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Maybe they [critics] have nothing to do, or are jobless, so they criticise us,” Srivara said.

the thai way; rather than address the policies,speech.actions which are being criticized, the real issues, the 'defense' attempts a focus shift by shooting the messenger(s)

[smutcakes]

Seems that agreements have been struck. A nice fine and a slap on the wrist agreed behind closed doors. Not to much of a punishment given that amount you could probably  turn him upside down and shake it out of his pockets. Still i expect they are hoping it placates people somewhat. Doubt the money will end up anywhere it could be put to good use.

[Wildliferescue]

After all that happened in the last two months it makes little sense to me to have police initiate a civil case, I rather see this done by the department of national parks directly to court. Given of course that he is been found guilty in criminal court.... 

Edited March 27, 2018 by Wildliferescue

[JOC]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He warned people who criticised police to express their opinions “within boundaries”, while threatening that police might bring lawsuits against critics.

[Sealbash]

12  million for a  Billionaire, oh yeah I bet hes   shi tting his pants, most likely with laughter, probably  buffing up another gun right now for the next trip, people pay more than that to go shoot elephants in Africa now dont they. Heres  an idea how about 5  years in Jail
sounds to me this is  more like "how much can we screw out of him for  ourselves" and how  much of that goes  missing, judging by the  current scandal of  robbing from the poor , most  will vanish

In which country are fines based on a persons wealth?


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[AhFarangJa]

10 minutes ago, Sealbash said:

In which country are fines based on a persons wealth?


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Please tell me if I am wrong, but it is not a fine, it is a claim for compensation brought by the action of a civil lawsuit........big difference....

[PoorSucker]

1 hour ago, Sealbash said:

In which country are fines based on a persons wealth?
 

Finland, a Nokia boss got 160.000 dollar fine for speeding. 

Most fines in Finland is based on your taxable income. 

[rebo]

1 hour ago, Sealbash said:

In which country are fines based on a persons wealth?

In many civilized countries, as long as we speak about financial penalties. The fine is imposed as daily rates, based on the average daily income.

[Old York]

One answer to this sorry saga would be for the underfunded Huay Kha Kaeng National Parks department to  benefit. Give the department a sizeable chunk of ITD shares plus a hefty fine to the boss. Also make him do community service as a park ranger which should also benefit his health.

[sawadee1947]

So it was good business for him...... Apart from the well known envelopes...... ?