Premchai’s acquittal in black leopard case to be challenged

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

File Photo : Premchai Karnasuta

 

PLAINTIFFS in the controversial black leopard poaching case said yesterday that they would appeal against the acquittal of a construction tycoon, saying it did not justly punish the wealthy, powerful alleged offender.
 

Representatives from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), the Office of the Attorney-General and Seub Nakhasathien Foundation told the press in Bangkok yesterday that the plaintiffs, after reading the full verdict for the case, had noticed loopholes. These they said had lessened the punishment for the prime defendant, hence they have decided to appeal against the verdict.

 

Secretary to the deputy attorney-general and chief of the plaintiff’s legal team, Somjet Amnuaisawat, said even though the plaintiffs found the verdict acceptable – as all four defendants had been sentenced to jail and fined – it was found that the prime defendant, Premchai Karnasuta, had got away with a lesser punishment.

 

“We found the court drew a straightforward conclusion based only on evidence and witness accounts. This eventually allowed Premchai to evade the major charge of illegally poaching in a wildlife sanctuary and get away with an easier punishment,” Somjet said.

 

Premchai, who is president of giant construction firm Italian-Thai Development, and three other persons in his group were arrested by park officers on site with the carcass of a black leopard. They were suspected to have slain the protected species during a hunting trip in the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi on February 2018. The Thong Pha Phum Court delivered the verdict in this case on March 19 this year.

 

Premchai was convicted of three crimes: carrying firearms in public without permission, aiding others in hunting for sport in a wildlife sanctuary without permission, and illegally possessing the carcass of a protected species. He was sentenced to 16 months in jail for these offences.

 

 

However, the court acquitted him and two other defendants – Premchai’s driver Yong Dodkruea and his cook Natee Riemsan – for the charges of hunting a protected animal without permission and illegally collecting wildlife items in a national forest reserve. Only the group’s hunter, Thanee Thummart, was convicted of all the charges.

 

Separately, Premchai and Thanee will have to pay Bt2 million to the DNP as compensation for the slaying of the black leopard.

 

Somjet said the court’s reason for dropping these two prominent charges was a lack of evidence against the three defendants. Premchai also testified in court that he had not hunted the black leopard.

 

“Though there may not be enough evidence to confirm Premchai’s role in the hunting of the black leopard, the court did not consider the fact that his intentions were clear, as a hunter accompanied his group and he had intentionally brought firearms into the protected forest reserve,” he said.

 

“Since Premchai was acquitted of these two major charges, he escaped at least five years in prison and/or a Bt50,000 fine.”

 

Kanita Ouitavon, chief of the DNP Wildlife Forensic Science Unit, also noted that the autopsy of the black leopard carcass clearly showed that Premchai’s team was planning to hunt a black leopard from the very beginning.

 

“We found that the carcass of the black leopard was professionally butchered and skinned. Its tail was cooked in the soup that Premchai consumed and its skin was carefully frayed and pickled in salt,” Kanita disclosed.

 

She argued that it was very unlikely that Premchai was in the dark or not involved in in the hunting of the black leopard.

 

Somjet said that since the plaintiffs found the verdict unsatisfactory, they will take the case to the Appeals Court.

 

He revealed that the officers of DNP, Office of the Attorney-General and Seub Nakhasathien Foundation are now working together to prepare the appeal and litigation in the Appeals Court.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30367173

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-05

Well there's a surprise.

"...PLAINTIFFS in the controversial black leopard poaching case said yesterday that they would appeal against the acquittal of a construction tycoon, saying it did not justly punish the wealthy, powerful alleged offender..."

 

Is there anyone out there who is surprised if he wasn't justly punished in this case? 

 

Anyone?

 

The sad fact of life in Thailand is that the rich and powerful have little to fear from the legal system, unless there is a political component or that they have somehow offended another, more powerful person. 

 

He will fight the case with expensive, well-connected lawyers, he will appeal everything, he will delay, he will appeal the delay, he will delay the appeal, and everything will be dragged on for years and years and years and years until it is forgotten or until he has died; how many times have we seen this?

 

Some day Thailand will have a legal system whereby all people are treated equally, but I don't believe that day has arrived.

 

It's a fair system, you get the justice you can afford.

This case is running true to form, as I expected. First the conviction - this is standard practice. Then the appeal, which will see Premchai (but not the others) have his conviction overturned and the plaintiff's case dismissed. The next step is for the plaintiffs to go to the Supreme Court to have the Appeals Court's verdict overturned, which is what will happen. Except ... having restored the guilty ruling, the Supreme Court will water down the sentence so that it effectively becomes meaningless, and Premchai will swagger out of court with a sh!t-eating groin on his face. Everyone, except decent folk, will be satisfied. Quid pro quo.

Lucky he wasn't caught picking mushrooms!.. I suppose.!!!

Why are people surprised?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

We found the court drew a straightforward conclusion based only on evidence and witness accounts

love to take out insurance on both that evidence and the lives of the witnesses

The Thai justice system: It's the best money can buy.

 

Everything gets camouflaged to make the fat man feel at home???? 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Its tail was cooked in the soup that Premchai consumed

I wonder if he had forest mushrooms with his ill gotten piece of tail. Now that would have gotten him jail time for sure !

That fat animal, a poor excuse for a human  being, should be served with justice he rightly deserves. 

 

Disgrace. 

 

Thailand once again showing the world its  lack of respect for animal rights. 

 

put his ass in the forest in a black suit and let some people shoot him

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Only the group’s hunter, Thanee Thummart, was convicted of all the charges.

As the fall guy ,I expect he was well compensated.

regards worgeordie

3 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

Well there's a surprise.

Perhaps he used counterfeit baht in the brown envelope.

the mushrooms are in the soup

Edited April 5, 20197 yr by bedbugy

He's yet to serve a single night behind bars.  Watch this space.

2 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

It's a fair system, you get the justice you can afford.

Sorry, you're wrong, it appears to be a 'fare' system.

3 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

It's a fair system, you get the justice you can afford.

In another words, you can get YOUR own justice.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Somjet said the court’s reason for dropping these two prominent charges was a lack of evidence against the three defendants

In the forest, with firearms, with the skin of a protected species.... all guilty !!!!!!!!!!!

Another tier version of Thai law in action !

Pretty creative headline. If you read that you would think he was acquitted of everything. He wasn't. The justice system is taking what seems to be a very unusual step of going after him a 2nd time to make even more charges stick. That's a good move and again proves everyone wrong about how easily he was supposed to have gotten off.

 

8 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...PLAINTIFFS in the controversial black leopard poaching case said yesterday that they would appeal against the acquittal of a construction tycoon, saying it did not justly punish the wealthy, powerful alleged offender..."

 

Is there anyone out there who is surprised if he wasn't justly punished in this case? 

 

Anyone?

 

The sad fact of life in Thailand is that the rich and powerful have little to fear from the legal system, unless there is a political component or that they have somehow offended another, more powerful person. 

 

He will fight the case with expensive, well-connected lawyers, he will appeal everything, he will delay, he will appeal the delay, he will delay the appeal, and everything will be dragged on for years and years and years and years until it is forgotten or until he has died; how many times have we seen this?

 

Some day Thailand will have a legal system whereby all people are treated equally, but I don't believe that day has arrived.

 

 

Whilst your sentiment is correct, you again hyperbole.

 

He will go to the Appeal Court. If he doesn't like the verdict he will appeal to the Supreme Court. The prosecutors can do likewise. 

Sure, either side can procrastinate.

 

As with most justice systems, playing the system is beyond the reach of the majority and a preserve for the wealthy.

5 hours ago, Sonhia said:

That fat animal, a poor excuse for a human  being, should be served with justice he rightly deserves. 

 

Disgrace. 

 

Thailand once again showing the world its  lack of respect for animal rights. 

 

Or lack of respect of an honest legal system...........oops, used the word "honest" and it isn't relevant as far as justice is concerned for the wealthy or well connected here.

11 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

It's a fair system, you get the justice you can afford.

Best judges money can buy !!!

9 hours ago, Sonhia said:

That fat animal, a poor excuse for a human  being, should be served with justice he rightly deserves. 

 

Disgrace. 

 

Thailand once again showing the world its  lack of respect for animal rights. 

 

It has little to do with animal rights, it's about the rule of law and possibly an incorrect judgement, looks like the envelope needs fattening up a little. 

7 hours ago, canopy said:

Pretty creative headline. If you read that you would think he was acquitted of everything. He wasn't. The justice system is taking what seems to be a very unusual step of going after him a 2nd time to make even more charges stick. That's a good move and again proves everyone wrong about how easily he was supposed to have gotten off.

 

I'm willing to bet everything I have that he does not spend any reasonable prison time.