The Appeal Court on Thursday rejected a petition for an urgent hearing into the disappearance of prominent Karen activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen.
The court stood by the Phetchaburi Court's ruling in July, which said there was insufficient evidence to link Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, the former Kaeng Krachan National Park chief, to Mr Porlajee's disappearance.
The petition was filed by Pinnapa Prueksapan, Mr Porlajee's wife, and human rights lawyer Waraporn Uthairing, under the Criminal Code to ask the court to launch an urgent hearing. It was based on suspicion that Mr Chaiwat and his subordinates were involved in his mysterious disappearance on April 17 last year when the activist was detained by them.
Mr Chaiwat has admitted that he arrested Billy for possession of wild honey at the park in Kaeng Krachan district in Phetchaburi but claimed the activist was released after being given a warning.
In the ruling on Thursday, the Appeal Court pointed to a lack of solid evidence to substantiate the claim that Mr Chaiwat was involved in the Karen man's disappearance.
Surapong Kongchantuk, a lead lawyer in the case, told the Bangkok Post that two park trainees had given conflicting statements about the exact location where they saw Mr Chaiwat release Mr Polarjee.
Their statements did not conform to those made by a park official, said Mr Surapong.
Last month, the trainees recanted their words to police and the legal team, saying they didn't actually witness the release of Mr Porlajee at all.
Their change of heart was not considered in the court's decision as they came forward after Ms Pinnapa had launched the petition.
"We feel sorry that this information came out too late. It's now being used in the police's ongoing investigation," he said.
Ms Pinnapa said after the court's ruling that the legal team would continue their work to mitigate Mr Porlajee's family from the loss and promised to keep searching for her husband.