Bangkok – The Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police has voiced his confidence that the case file on Italian Thai Development Co Ltd CEO Premchai Karnasutra and three others accused of illegal hunting in Tungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary is strong, but indicated that police are ready to present more evidence if needed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
Pol Gen Sriwara Rangsiphramnakul explained that the OAG did not return the case file for a second time after it was resubmitted on March 22 but rather commissioned additional questioning, restating his own confidence in the strength of the file.
Investigators have filed an additional charge of violating the Customs Department Act against Premchai after he failed to produce any documentation for African Elephant Ivory found in his home. An assessment by the Customs Department given to police on March 23 indicated the ivory is worth a combined 4 million baht.
At the same time, Premchai has been hit with a 13 million baht damage charge by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation over his trip’s impact on Tungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.
Pol Gen Sriwara said he has ordered all investigation teams to submit their final files to the OAG by March 30.
Premchai and the three others involved in the case reported to Thong Pha Phum Court on Monday to sign off on their fifth round of detention. They met with court authorities for 15 minutes and acknowledged their next appearance on April 9 before leaving without speaking to the media.
