Wildlife damage in Premchai case ‘worth Bt12.75m’

THE NATIONAL Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has assessed the damage allegedly caused by construction magnate Premchai Karnasuta and three other suspects to the ecology of Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary to be worth Bt12.75 million, a source said yesterday.

This amount will be included in a civil lawsuit filed against Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, and his three companions, who were arrested at the park in Kanchanaburi province in early February.



This amount will be included in a civil lawsuit filed against Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, and his three companions, who were arrested at the park in Kanchanaburi province in early February.

Premchai and his companions have already been charged with nine criminal counts related to poaching after the remains of protected animals, including a black leopard, were found at their campsite.

Public prosecutors recommended that police initiate the civil lawsuit against the suspects and seek compensation for damages.

The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the damage was initially set at Bt3 million, but that sum was reviewed by a committee chaired by department deputy director-general Jongklai Worapongsathorn. Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, chief of the department’s Phaya Sua wildlife enforcement taskforce, who led the raid and arrested the suspects, was a member of the committee.


The damage included the expense to authorities of breeding, caring for and returning to the wild protected animals to replace those that were killed, as well as subsequent efforts to ensure their welfare.

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