Man given 2-year suspended jailterm for killing a dog



BANGKOK: -- A man was placed on one-year probation and given two-year suspended jailterm after he was found guilty by the court of cruelty against animals for shooting to death a dog.

The defendant, 33-year old Mr Vicha Boonluelak, shot several times a female dog in front of the Imperial department store at Lat Phrao as the beast was about to bite him. The incident took place on January 13, last year.

He was eventually arrested by the police after the owner of the dog, Ms Panita Sunthornrat, lodged a complaint with the police. He was charged with illegal possession of firearms, illegally carrying firearms and cruelty against animals.

The court found the defendant guilty of the three charges and sentenced him to 20 months jailterm and a fine of 11,000 baht and sentenced him to 14 months in prison and 7,500 baht in fine.

But since the defendant has never committed any criminal offences before, the court decided to suspend the jailterm for two years and put him in one-year probation. He was required to meet with parole officials four times within a year and to conduct community services for 12 hours.

After the verdict, the defendant said he would not appeal against the verdict. He said he shot the dog out of a fit of anger because he had been bitten by the dogs several times before.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/156714

-- Thai PBS 2016-03-25

Could only happen in Thailand. Any place else the dog owner would have been prosecuted.

Come to think of it. I have a dog in Thailand that lives with my partner here. I hope she does not bite anyone. I may be extradited to Thailand to face charges.

Maybe dog punishment can get applied to car drivers,

In other news, wealthy businessman may have his license revoked for killing people! ! ! ! An so goes justice in Thailand where dogs are valued more highly than people.

And may karma finds its way back to rebalance injustice to any party involved...

Edited March 25, 201610 yr by trogers

He was charged with illegal possession of firearms, illegally carrying firearms and cruelty against animals.

I think he got off lightly. Someone shooting a gun in public, especially outside a busy shopping mall is a danger to everyone. How many people in Los have a gun? A frightening thought.

Edited March 25, 201610 yr by Wilsonandson

Maybe dog punishment can get applied to car drivers,

Had there been a dog in the vehicle hit by a Mercedes perhaps justice would have been swifter you suggest?

So the judges think it's OK to let agressive dogs run free on the streets and biting people? Thailand only krab.

Good that they don't have rabies or other diseases here which can kill you, ohh wait...

an optimistic outcome...seems the new animal law does have some teeth.

In other news, wealthy businessman may have his license revoked for killing people! ! ! ! An so goes justice in Thailand where dogs are valued more highly than people.

Only the dogs of wealthy, connected people....

too many dogs and too many irresponsible owners but he still should not have shot the thing in public

The guy should have been given a cash incentive and offered a job to clean up the mongrels.

Guy fires off his gun in public and the "police " would have done nothing if the woman hadn't lodged a complaint about her dog.

Why is not the owner of the dog arrested and charged for attempted murder by lethal dog bite?

The guy should have been given a cash incentive and offered a job to clean up the mongrels.

Maybe dog punishment can get applied to car drivers,

Had there been a dog in the vehicle hit by a Mercedes perhaps justice would have been swifter you suggest?

Not if your a movie star or the Heir of Red Bull.

The guy should have been given a cash incentive and offered a job to clean up the mongrels.

Perhaps offing them with a 9mm outside a busy shopping mall might not be the best way to start though?

The guy's excuse was that "the dog threatened to bite" him. More likely that he saw the size of it's balls and got jealous.

Just shows owning an illegal firearm and bullets means nothing. Most countries it would be 5 years minimum regardless of no criminal convictions. This just shows how the law sees guns here, even illegal ones. No coincidence either with the amount of killings here either to people or dogs.

Edited March 25, 201610 yr by Laughing Gravy

The dog owner was there and failed to control her animal. She should be charged too.

He said he shot the dog out of a fit of anger because he had been bitten by the dogs several times before.

When is Thailand ever going to grow up and start doing something about all those dogs running wild in public?

I know, I am barking up the wrong tree

The dog owner was there and failed to control her animal. She should be charged too.

In her defense, it is difficult to control a dog when you never raised it well and don't have it on a leash.

The owner is about to be pumped full of lead soon, to much face has been lost

Is this the ex Democrat MP who shot the dog or another less important person?

...what to say amidst all this madness....

Ms. Panita must be an influential lady. Who punishes the dogs biting young children to death. The "dog love" is more a fashion across most Asian countries recently without any sensitivity to the woes of pedestrians and children of poor settlements

I agree with the court in the sense that you cannot have people running around shooting in the streets. However, I understand his actions as he was fearing getting attacked by the dog.

But what surprises me is nothing is mentioned about the dog owner's responsibilities? She failed to control her dog.

I wouldn't be surprised if she had done as many other Thai dog owners' modus operandi - just let the dogs out on the street without any care for the dog or people. I am a dog owner myself and I see this on many of my daily dog walks. Other farang, Japanese and a few Thais have a leash and control of their dog, but many Thai residents in the soi just let out their dogs to do whatever they want.

So the law should work both ways that the owner also carry a responsibility for controlling your dog.

the beast was about to bite him

What does this actually mean?

Was it growling

Was it showing it's teeth

Was it coming at the man

Was it a little or big dog

Was it on a leash

The guy obviously had time to remove his concealed weapon as the dog was about to bite him, which suggests he's already made up his mind what he was going to to.

Not good and he should be punished!

...having said that: kill 9 people, while driving without a license, get 48 hours of civil service A YEAR, because you have "that name"!

I got a dog here (Labrador). If my dog would try to bite somebody and would be killed within I would be sad but would not file a complaint with the police for sure.