Dog abuser gets year in jail, fine

Dog abuser gets year in jail, fine

The Nong Khai provincial court sentenced a 50-year-old man who hit a dog with a thrown knife a one-year suspended jail term and a 2,000-baht fine, the first abuser prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Bill that took effect at the end of last year.

The court on Tuesday found Khamdee Khottha, a resident of Nakha village in Nong Khai’s Tha Bo district, guilty of torturing one-year-old ‘Kankluay’ dog belonging to his neighbour Jomsri Khamphukaew, and sentenced him to a jail term of one year and a fine of 2,000 baht. The jail term, however, was suspended for one year. The verdict was read out at 4.30pm on Tuesday, Thairath Online reported on Wednesday. 

The court on Tuesday found Khamdee Khottha, a resident of Nakha village in Nong Khai's Tha Bo district, guilty of torturing one-year-old ‘Kankluay,' a dog owned by neighbour Jomsri Khamphukaew. The jail term was suspended for one year. The verdict was read at 4.30pm Tuesday, Thairath Online reported today.
Ms Jomsri earlier filed a complaint with Tha Bo police, accusing Khamdee, her neighbour and also her relative, of throwing a knife at her dog, striking it in the face Jan 1. The male canine sustained a serious cut and received more than 100 stitches.

On Jan 5, police summonsed Khamdee to hear charges of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Bill, which was approved by the National Legislative Council and passed into law Dec 27.
During the police interrogation, Mr Khamdee admitted he threw a knife at Kankluay to chase it away from his chickens as he feared the dog might attack them. He insisted he had no intention to kill the dog.
He and the dog owner later settled the problem, but police had to proceed with the case against the dog attacker under the animal-welfare legislation.

Saiyont Khamphukaew, dog owner, said the dog's wounds have gradually improved and he would take it to see a vet today.

‘'I never thought this case will become a big issue. I want to end it as we (he and the dog abuser) are relatives. As police insist to proceed with legal action, we have to let the officers do their job.
Pol Lt Col Noppadon Polpattana, Tha Bo police, chief, said the court ruling would set a precedent for those who tortured or injured dogs.

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