KANCHANABURI, Dec 8 (TNA) – The Supreme Court sentenced Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development pcl, to three years and two months in jail without suspension in a black panther hunting case.
The Thong Pha Phum Court read the ruling of the Supreme Court concerning the illegal hunt of a black panther and a kalij pheasant for a meal in the western part of the Thungyai Naresuan forest in Kanchanaburi province on Feb 4, 2018.
The Supreme Court found Premchai guilty of taking part in illegally hunting animals in a wildlife sanctuary and possessing and concealing wildlife carcasses.
His driver Yong Dodkruea was jailed for three years and five months and his hunter Thanee Thummat three years and nine months.
They were also ordered to pay 2 million baht in compensation for damage to the forest but the interest rate of the compensation will be adjusted in accordance with a new law.
Another defendant, maid Nathee Riemsaen, did not appeal to the Supreme Court. Earlier she was sentenced to one year and eight months in jail and a fine of 40,000 baht. Her jail term was suspended for two years.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling was read, Premchai was brought to an RT-PCR test and to the Thong Pha Phum prison. (TNA)
