National park department demands 12 million baht from Premchai

BANGKOK, March 27 (TNA) – The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation demands construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and three hunting companions pay 12.75 million baht for their alleged poaching in the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province in early February. Jongklai Worapongsatorn, deputy director-general of the department, said the damage was based on three killed wild animals: a black Indochinese leopard estimated at 12 million baht as well as a wild boar and a silver pheasant valued at 750,000 baht. The damage was calculated from the costs of raising such animals until their release in the wild and their survival rate. The figure did not include the damage of the ecosystem that had yet to be studied, Mr Jongklai said. Meanwhile, police at the National Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division charged Mr Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, with illegal possession of four elephant tusks. Mr Premchai has faced 13 charges related to the wildlife hunting and possession of firearms and ivory tusks found in a subsequent search at his house in Bangkok. (TNA)