KANACHABURI: The Thong Pha Phum Court in Kanchanaburi has turned down a request submitted by construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta for the removal of the electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet from his right ankle.
Mr Premchai's request was made on the grounds that the EM bracelet had inflamed the ankle, causing a wound around it, as a result of his diabetes condition.
The court rejected the request, reasoning that the diabetic wound is on the left, not the right ankle.
Mr Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, and three accomplices were arrested on Feb 4, 2018 at an unauthorised camp in the western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Thong Pha Phum district. Found with them were firearms, ammunition and the carcasses of a rare black leopard, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer.
They were indicted for illegal possession of wildlife carcasses and related charges in the Thong Pha Phum Court. In March last year, the court sentenced Mr Premchai to 16 months in jail. His driver, Yong Dodkruea, was handed down a jail term of one year and one month; his maid, Nathee Riamsaen, a suspended four-month jail term; and his huntsman, Thanee Thummat, a jail term of three years and five months.
The four appealed.
The Court of Appeal Region 7 in December last year increased the jail terms for Mr Premchai to three years and two months, the driver to three years and five months, and the hunter to three years and nine months.
After hearing the Appeal Court's decision, they applied for bail, each posting a 1-million-baht surety, pending appeal to the Supreme Court. They were granted bail on the condition that they wear an EM ankle bracelet and are not allowed to travel abroad. They were required to report to the court on Jan 13. However, they reported to the court earlier, on Jan 9.
Mr Premchai went to the court on Monday to submit the request for the removal of the EM bracelet. However, the request was turned down.
Withoon Yaemprai, Mr Premchai's lawer, said that the four defendants will file a petition on Feb 11 to seek trial in the Supreme Court.