Justice in wildlife saga

Justice in wildlife saga

Mr Premchai is confronted on Feb 4, 2018. The dead leopard is measured.
Mr Premchai is confronted on Feb 4, 2018. The dead leopard is measured.

More than a year after construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta was arrested at a camping site inside Thungyai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary with a firearm and the carcasses of rare endangered animals including a pheasant and black leopard, justice has been served -- partially.

Yesterday, the court found the tycoon guilty for possession of -- and carrying -- weapons without a permit, enabling poaching and possession of a Kalij pheasant carcass, a protected animal.

It handed him a 16-month jail sentence. Huntsman Thani Thummas received two years and seven months imprisonment without probation. They were ordered to pay a fine of 2 million baht.

Two more culprits must serve from four to 13 months behind bars. The court granted bail to all four.

Despite the sight of the black leopard's carcass at the camp, as shown in a widely circulated photograph, Premchai was let off the hook for killing the poor animal as, according to the prosecutor, the "courts found that Premchai was not at the scene".

The charge of foraging in a wildlife sanctuary was also dropped.

Sanctuary chief Wichien Chinnawong, who led last year's raid, initially accepted the verdict, saying he "was satisfied" and that "we got justice for the leopard".

However, he said he would discuss the next step with his department and the prosecutors.

The tycoon, who reportedly apologised as he emerged from the court, plans to appeal the ruling.

The lengthy court process has been much speculated on by the public as concern grows that powerful figures may lobby for Premchai's early release.

Compared to a recent case involving the hunting of a bearcat, also in Kanchanaburi, the "leopard case" has already been dragging on.

The former saw the justice process wrapped up in about five months after the arrest was made in October.

What is common in these two cases -- and many others -- is that people of a lower social status tend to face harsher penalties. In this case, that would be Tata, a Myanmar migrant.

It will take some time before the judicial process in the leopard case wraps up.

There is also mounting doubt that the lengthy appellate process could end delivering a big surprise, or disappointment, if it causes the case to fade from public view.

This confirms the power of social pressure, which has been kept up since the poaching case started making headlines.

And it is this that was keeping the issue alive -- at least until the tycoon arrived at court yesterday.

Such forces are needed to ensure the culture of impunity -- whether it involves the rich, or those in power -- will be uprooted from Thai society.

Only if the general public maintains its vigilance over such matters will under-the-table deals not be struck quite so easily.

The Seub Nakasathien Foundation yesterday issued a press release suggesting the importance of public learning as well as public education, which helped reinforce public pressure in the black leopard case.

Such pressure is needed to ensure justice.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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