SAMUT SONGKHRAM, June 11 (TNA) – A court sentences construction tycoon Premchai Karnasutra to one year in prison after convicting him of bribing officials during his arrest at the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi for allegedly hunting a black leopard.
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 7 in Samut Songkhram on Tuesday handed down a one-year jail term to Premchai without suspension.
The court dismissed charges against his driver, Yong Dodkhruea as the 20- minute audio clip revealed common conversation with no link to Premchai’s bribery attempt.
Premchai was granted bail against surety bonds worth 200,000 baht. His lawyer will appeal to the court later.
The Thong Pha Phum court in Kanchanaburi province in March sentenced Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development PCL, to 16 months in jail in the controversial black leopard hunting case and the imprisonment was not suspended.
He was granted bail and banned from leaving the country.
Premchai and three other defendants were arrest at the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi on Feb 3, 2018.
Carcasses of protected animals including a black leopard were found about 300 meters from their camp, near Lampachi stream in the western part of the sanctuary. (TNA)
