Thailand: Prison sentence for poacher confirmed

Thailand's Supreme Court confirmed a prison sentence of three years and two months for a leading construction tycoon.

He allegedly shot a black panther in a wildlife sanctuary and roasted it over a campfire, reports the Bangkok Post.

Billionaire poaches in UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site

Premchai Karnasuta is president of Italian-Thai Development PLC, one of the country's largest and most prominent construction firms, which was involved in mega-projects such as the construction of Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Bangkok's Skytrain rapid transit system.

The imprisonment of Premchai is a rare case in which a wealthy, influential Thai is required to serve a prison sentence for misconduct. The Thai public has grown weary of repeated examples of wealthy Thais who appear to break the law with impunity.

The 66-year-old heard the verdict at a court in the western province of Kanchanaburi. Upon his arrival, he wore a bandage over one eye, though the reason was unclear. Court staff said he was taken directly to a nearby prison to begin his sentence after the hearing.

Panther slaughtered and cooked

The poaching incident in February 2018 had sparked widespread outrage. Premchai was arrested at night at a campsite deep within the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site listed for its rare flora and fauna.

Park rangers found weapons and the carcasses of several animals nearby, including a black panther. The panther had been slaughtered and its meat cooked for a soup.

Three years in prison and a fine

Premchai was convicted of, among other offences, poaching and illegal possession of firearms. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay a portion of a 2 million baht (US$59,700) fine.

His former driver Yong Dodkruea, 68, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison, and his hunter Thanee Thummat, 59, to three years and nine months.

Nathee Riemsaen, the 46-year-old cook, was sentenced to a suspended prison term of one year and eight months. She did not appeal the verdict.