Police have not taken sides in the case involving the hunting of protected wildlife in a national park in which a policeman was among those arrested, a deputy national police chief said on Thursday.
Pol Gen Pansiri Praphawat was responding to questions why the policeman had not been charged along with the others for hunting in Keang Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province.
Pol Lt Theerayuth Ketmangmee was among the nine hunters caught within the park boundaries.
Pol Lt Theerayuth’s companions were charged with the hunting of endangered species and being in illegal possession of protected animals, while he was only fined 1,000 baht for entering the national park without permission.
Pol Gen Pansiri Praphawat said the police have no policy to protect guilty officers.
“We will not protect guilty police officers, especially those who break environmental laws,” he told reporters.
“It is unacceptable, police should be the ones preventing such crimes,” the deputy police chief asserted.
The investigators examined the evidence and decided not to press charges against Pol Lt Theerayuth, he said.
“But, to be fair, I have requested that the documents be sent to me and I will review them myself, and reveal my findings to the public in one or two days,” the deputy police chief said.