Defendants deny charges in bearcat hunting case

[webfact]

Defendants deny charges in bearcat hunting case

By SUPOJ KAEWKASEE 
THE NATION 

 

File photo

 

ALL DEFENDANTS in the much-publicised binturong (bearcat) hunting case, with the exception of one fugitive, denied all charges at the Kanchanaburi Provincial Court yesterday.

 

 

The case involves 14 defendants, including Watcharachai Sameerak – deputy district chief of Kanchanaburi’s Dan Makham Tia. The defendant on the run hails from the Karen tribe and is known by the name Jenra or Jeera. 

 

The defendants were arrested in October 2018 for allegedly poaching wildlife at the Sai Yok National Park in Kanchaburi province. They were found to have in their possession a rifle with a silencer, two other guns, ammunition and a binturong carcass at the time of arrest. 

 

Officials from the Sai Yok National Park began searching for this group after realising that they had not left the park at closing time and began suspecting they may be engaged in illegal hunting. 

 

This case has attracted public attention because in early 2018, construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta was also arrested for alleged hunting in Kanchanaburi. Given the public outcry against Premchai, it is difficult to imagine why anyone would try to flout anti-poaching laws.

 

Police investigation identified 14 suspects in the binturong hunting case and they face 17 charges, though the number of charges per defendant differs. Some members of the group face additional charges of firearms possession and alcohol consumption in a prohibited area. 

 

With the exception of Jenra, all defendants came to court yesterday to listen to their charges. However, since they have denied their charges, the court will have to hold trials to examine the evidence. The defendants refused to speak to the media. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361515

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-03

[mok199]

Deny ,Deflect ,Defiant...

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Given the public outcry against Premchai, it is difficult to imagine why anyone would try to flout anti-poaching laws.

not difficult, some people are just, simply, stupid

[leeneeds]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

alcohol consumption in a prohibited area.

They will beat this charge no doubt

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

alcohol consumption in a prohibited area. 

Like a car?

[ChrisY1]

Maybe there should simply be a big fine imposed and mandatory prison sentence for these cases...no arguments and no court case, which are costly and take forever then usually fail.

 

[SABloke]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, since they have denied their charges, the court will have to hold trials to examine the evidence.

So if you admit guilt to a crime, the courts don't examine the evidence? No wonder it's easy for rich people to get surrogates to plead guilty and serve time for their (he rich people's) crimes. 

[neeray]

Deny, deny, deny. It's the common response of the blatantly guilty.

 

Would love to see their mud hooks on a table just like the above repulsive picture (at least one paw ..... the trigger paw)

[marko kok prong]

'No idea how those limbs/paws got in my bag guv' rifles,nah not mine guv, whisky,nah i don't drink guv, blah,blah ,blah.

[DM07]

Them damn suicidal bearcats...

[monkfish]

So it's a Bearcat not a Black Panther?

[sammieuk1]

Its obvious the Bearcat broke into camp and committed suicide whilst simultaneously falling on a foresters chainsaw ????

[RichardColeman]

I think they should stick to something more believeable - like the bear fell from a helicopter

[Ulic]

Caught dead to rights just means the envelopes will have to be fatter.