Public prosecutors forwarded indictments against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and his three camping associates to court yesterday for allegedly poaching wildlife inside the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi in February.
The indictments were brought to Thong Pha Phum provincial court by the chief public prosecutor of Thong Pha Phum Province. The move signalled the completion of efforts to collect evidence and interrogate witnesses.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also stood firm yesterday on its decision to indict Mr Premchai on just six charges. The ruling was announced in a press briefing by Somsri Wattanapaisarn, the director-general of the Office of Public Prosecution Region 7, and Somjate Amnuaysawat, executive director of the office's criminal case division 2.
The six charges are: carrying firearms in public without permission, colluding to hunt wildlife in a wildlife sanctuary without permission, conspiring to hunt protected wildlife without permission, possessing protected wildlife carcasses without permission, concealing wildlife carcasses obtained illegally, and collecting wildlife items in a national forest reserve without permission.
Prosecutors decided not to pursue three other charges proposed by Police Regional Office 7. They are illegal entry into a wildlife sanctuary, illegal possession of hunting tools, and attempting to hunt animals in a sanctuary without permission.
The prosecutors reportedly decided not to indict Mr Premchai on those charges citing a lack of evidence. Police then supplied more evidence and lodged an appeal with the OAG in Bangkok, apparently to no avail.
Responding to the OAG's decision not to add the three other charges, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said officers did their best to gather all related evidence. The decision not to indict the suspects on some charges was at the discretion of the OAG, he said.
Asked whether the decision not to pursue the extra charges could be interpreted as a move in Mr Premchai's favour, the police chief said he couldn't speculate as it was the prosecutors' decision.
The OAG is sticking with its decision to indict Yong Dodkhruea, Nathee Riamsaen and Thanee Thummat, the tycoon's three associates and camping entourage.
Mr Yong faces the same six charges plus an additional charge of colluding to possess firearms and ammunition without permission.
Mr Thanee faces the same seven charges as Mr Yong plus one more: attempting to poach wildlife in a sanctuary without permission.
Ms Nathee, who served as a cook during the trip, faces similar charges to Mr Yong, with the exception of colluding to hunt wildlife in a wildlife sanctuary without permission and conspiring to hunt protected wildlife without permission.
Mr Premchai was arrested on Feb 4 after allegedly hunting and eating a rare black leopard.