Premchai keeps his court appointment, denies all charges

By SUPOJ KAEWKASEE 
THE NATION 
KANCHANABURI

 

 

THE EMBATTLED president of Italian-Thai Development company and his three companions facing poaching-related charges yesterday reported themselves to a Kanchaburi Court and reportedly denied the charges.

 

President Premchai Karnasuta, his close aide Yong Dotkrau, driver Thanee Thummart, and cook Natee Riemsaen showed up in court in Thong Pha Phum district. They are out on bail after being arrested by forest rangers in Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary in early February at their campsite. Seized from the site were the remains of a butchered black leopard and other protected wild animals as well as rifles.

 

They are facing six charges relating to poaching in the wildlife sanctuary, which carry jail terms and fines.Premchai and Yong are also charged with attempted bribery.

 

The four had been freed on bail of Bt150,000 each.

 

The court yesterday increased the bail amount for Premchai, Yong and Natee to Bt400,000 each. They will also need court approval to travel abroad.

 

They have been ordered to appear before the court on May 21.

 

It was reported that the four defendants denied charges of colluding to kill the leopard.

 

Pol Lt-Colonel Amnart Sujaritchai, the deputy Thong Pha Phum public prosecutor, asked the public to have faith in the justice system, saying the process will be transparent and as per the law.

 

His comments seemed to be aimed at assuaging public anger that Premchai, a billionaire and an influential businessman, may be able to evade prosecution due to his strong connections with those within government.

 

His listed firm has won concessions from governments for many years. The public has started a series of campaigns to ensure that Premchai is prosecuted for his alleged offences and that death of the big cat will not be in vain.

 

Speaking to reporters later, Premchai insisted on his innocence but declined to answer queries on whether he had shot the leopard.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344480

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-03

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

the deputy Thong Pha Phum public prosecutor, asked the public to have faith in the justice system, saying the process will be transparent and as per the law.

 

Have faith in the justice system !!! Transparent and as per the law ??? Whose law are we talking about, Mr $$$$s...

 

This was always an exercise in deflecting attention away from Toad Boy and his tickers.. Once that was swept under the carpet, this case could also start it's slow demise into history..

 

 

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

cook Natee Riemsaen

 

The Gordon Ramsay of panther penis soup cuisine.

 

In the picture, he has a very pained look on his face, a bit like a constipated look. Maybe he is thinking something like "I really frigged up". I doubt that he feels much testosterone today like he did when he murdered that defenseless, black tiger.

I think his $$$ may buy him some leniency but I don't think it will buy him a 'get out of jail free' card.

There'd be too much backlash.

I don't think it will end up in jail time for the big boss, big fine, warning,

good behaviour conditions and so on, no prison time, the others however

will probably end up in jail in lieu of the boss, after all, someone has to go

to jail to appease the masses right?....

Yes, it seems like a clear case of suicide on the part of the leopard/panther/big cat!

1 hour ago, webfact said:

It was reported that the four defendants denied charges of colluding to kill the leopard.

suicidal leopards ?

This fatty is just another rich Thai guy who cannot take responsibility for his actions.

  He should consider getting into politics, buy a few watches and be a thorn

in the good Generals side. 555. Hope the courts prove everyone wrong and give

him sometime in the richs guys jail in Thailand.

Geezer

Its Panther suicide then.

Of course he is showing up. He is following the tradition in the most classical way. You do not diappear until it´s time for the day before sentencing.

They didn't all collude to kill the leopard they were out to kill anything they had the opportunity to kill ! and didn't they DNA the dump they found what were the results of that ?

If people want hunt, give guns to all people and shoot other people.

Simple.

And big cats happy! 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

public prosecutor, asked the public to have faith in the justice system, saying the process will be transparent and as per the law.

But which law are we talking about?  The one for the rich or the other one?

1 hour ago, tracker1 said:

They didn't all collude to kill the leopard they were out to kill anything they had the opportunity to kill ! and didn't they DNA the dump they found what were the results of that ?

This is why all the charges start with "Colluding to..." Rather than, "Killing a..." - they will get off on the technicality that they didn't collude and in fact openly decided to kill the animals. 

Remember!

28 minutes ago, Juan B Tong said:

Remember!

Thanks for posting this once again. This picture speaks volumes.

"I was only there,"

I am sure no one else paid for the hunting  trip,

what has not come out is the amount of money offered to the park ranger,

I bet he wished he had offered a million straight away.

At least they didn't do a Red Bull!

 

What ever happened to that coward?

 

If the accused are found guilty, they should do the time for the crimes regardless of their status.

Let's look at the line-up of suspects in hierarchical order, shall we:

a big boss

a close aide

a driver

a cook

 

Since there was no butler in the group (which would have put the driver at the bottom of the list), the cook in the end will take the fall on all charges.

 

The others in the group complained they were ravenously hungry, so the cook was told to hurry and prepare a meal. Bound by duty, the cook ventured out into the jungle, big boss's rifle in hand. Since no pheasants or hares were encountered, the cook shot the next best thing that crossed his rifle's sights, the leopard, blissfully unaware that it was a protected species. He butchered and served it as "chicken stew". This didn't arouse the suspicion of the other group members because as we all know, when Thai people are presented with food their brain basically shuts down. 

 

Oh, and I almost forgot: The cook's family has perhaps already received a generous cash "gift" as compensation for him taking all the blame. After all, there ought to be a reason why big boss is so adamant that he's completely innocent and why he is so confidently and consistently denying all charges.   

It was the Cooks fault Your Honour; he told me he had found a recipe for 'Panther En Croute'   !

9 hours ago, webfact said:

THE EMBATTLED president of Italian-Thai Development company and his three companions

 

They are NOT his 'companions' they are his EMPLOYEES for f...'s sake, and that changes everything !

 

Even if you are on friendly terms with your boss, the hierarchical relationship automatically controls the relationship :

 

1/ Subconsciously - or not - you try to ingratiate yourself with him/her.

2/ Even if - on the surface - you have your say, the boss always has the final word.

 

Trying to present this story as 'four mates doing bad things together' is a blatant distortion of the truth, with the VERY OBVIOUS goal of laying all the responsibility, eventually, on the 'companions'. Wait and see.

 

Will the 'companions' let that happen ? One of course wishes they won't. But let's keep in mind that in this country, drivers, housemaids, gardeners etc. regularly cover their boss's arse and go to jail for him/her. Oh, sure, they get a financial compensation and their families are taken care of, that's how feudal this society is, and how untouchable the richest ones are.

 

 

Edited May 3, 20188 yr by Yann55

It is seldom mentioned that the saddest part of this whole affair is that it was a black panther.  leopards are very common indeed, whilst black panthers are extremely rare. I've seen hundreds of leopards in the wild , whilst living in the jungle and only one black panther. It seemed to me that he considered it some kind of rich guys challenge to kill and eat a black panther because of its rarity and it's protected species. He thinks he now really a tough guy, having killed one. Utterly pathetic. I hope he faces the full force of the law

4 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

This is all about junta construction projects and the cost.

 

Dead panthers? Nobody that matters cares. 

 

It's about money as per. 

It will be fascinating to see who, when the dust settles, the cook and quite possibly the driver are carted off to prison, and Premchai retires into comfortable obscurity with a fine and maybe a suspended sentence; just who takes over the reins at Italian-Thai. I wonder how the formal and informal financial arrangements will change, and who will be the beneficiaries.

 

A very senior military engineer officer might be the ideal chap for the job. Sappers (military engineers) are jolly good with concrete and drains and things like that...

Edited May 3, 20188 yr by JAG

3 hours ago, gamini said:

It is seldom mentioned that the saddest part of this whole affair is that it was a black panther.  leopards are very common indeed, whilst black panthers are extremely rare. I've seen hundreds of leopards in the wild , whilst living in the jungle and only one black panther. It seemed to me that he considered it some kind of rich guys challenge to kill and eat a black panther because of its rarity and it's protected species. He thinks he now really a tough guy, having killed one. Utterly pathetic. I hope he faces the full force of the law

In your jungle adventures, did you see Shere Khan or just Bagheera?

What ever the fascicle outcome may be, and we all know what that will be......  At least he fronted up to court, unlike some.........

On 03/05/2018 at 6:43 PM, ratcatcher said:

In your jungle adventures, did you see Shere Khan or just Bagheera?

You could read about my adventures in the jungle in my book. "A charmed life in Ceylon" available on Amazon books!