Supreme Court sentences Premchai to 2 years 6 months in prison
The ruling was read out at Thong Pha Phum District Court on Wednesday morning.
Premchai, 66-year-old president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, arrived at the court with a walking cane and a bandage over his left eye. The two other defendants in the case were also present at the court.
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.
The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's jail terms, although the Wild Animal Preservation and Protection Act was amended two years ago to exclude punishment for acceptance of wildlife carcasses.
All three were acquitted on the carcass acceptance count but were still found guilty of possessing wildlife carcasses and their jail terms of eight months in this offence remained in force.
The Supreme Court also upheld the Appeal Court's order that they pay 2 million baht in compensation for damage to nature resulting from their illegal hunting.
The defendants were ordered to be fitted with electronic tags while waiting to be taken to Thong Pha Phum prison. They were also tested for Covid-19.
The Office of the Attorney General initially announced the wrong prison sentences at a press conference shortly after the ruling was read out.
The announcement said the Supreme Court sentenced Premchai Karnasuta to a prison term of two years and six months, his former driver to two years and nine months and his hunter to three years and one month. Read More…
