A motorcycle taxi driver has been sentenced to one year and six months in jail for cruelty to animals after killing nine cats he had adopted by answering a post on Facebook.
Panuwat Singsahut, 26, was charged in the North Bangkok District Court on Aug 15 with cruelty to animals after he was found to have killed nine cats - on July 10, 18, 20, 24, 26, 29, 30 and 31 - at his apartment on Lat Phrao road.
Mr Panuwat, who was free on 20,000 baht bail, turned up at the court on Thursday, accompanied by relatives, to hear the ruling.
The court found he had violated Sections 20 and 31 of the Prevention of Cruelty and Welfare of Animals Act and Section 381 of the Criminal Code, and sentenced him to a total of 36 months imprisonment on nine counts, each carrying a jail term of 4 months.
Due to his confession, the sentence was halved to 18 months. It was not suspended because Panuwat had previously been given a jail sentence.
His relatives said they would seek Mr Panuwat's release on bail, pending an appeal.
The court was told Mr Panuwat lived in an apartment in Soi Mahadthai 13 in Wang Thong Lang district and adopted the nine cats after seeing an announcement on Facebook. He was allowed to take the cats in his care as he had adoped many cats before.
On Aug 12, a message was published on the Facebook page "Watchdog Thailand" saying that Mr Panuwat did not reply when contacted to return the cats. A complaint was filed with Wang Thong Lang police.
During a search of his apartment on Aug 14, police found the dead cats in waste containers.
Mr Panuwat told police he had killed the cats in fits of rage.