CONSTRUCTION TYCOON Premchai Karnasuta who was jailed for two years and six months on Dec. 8, 2021 on the charges of conspiring to slay a black panther and jointly possessing the game’s carcasses in a western forest reserve on Feb. 5, 2018 will likely be released early from jail today (Oct. 17), Naewna newspaper said.
It was reported that the Corrections Department decided at meeting held yesterday to release Premchai, former president of construction giant Italian-Thai Development Plc, earlier than completion of his sentence approximately on June 8, 2024, after taking into account that he is an elderly man who is suffering from debilitating illnesses and has completed one-third of his sentence.
Aside from the two years and six months in jail without parole Premchai was also ordered to pay 2 million baht in damages.
Others caught with him – his driver, cook and his hunting guide – were also sentenced. Mr. Yong Dodkrua, the second defendant, to two years and nine months, Ms Natee Riamsaen, third defendant, had not petitioned the Supreme Court after being granted probation, and Mr. Thani Thummas, the fourth defendant, to two years and 13 months.
The Supreme Court had initially sentenced Premchai to two years and 14 months in jail but this was reduced to two years in six months’ imprisonment because the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535 was amended in 2019 with Section 55 repealed and this then led to charges brought under this section being dropped.
At 11.30 a.m. today a van and a SUV brought Italian-Thai Development workers and Premchai’s close friends to the front of Thong Pha Phum Prison in Kanchanaburi with a police team also arriving to observe and facilitate the group thus clearly indicating Premchai will be freed today.
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Top and Front Page: Ex-boss of Italian-Thai Development Plc Premchai Karnasuta.
Insert: The van and SUV that brought Italian-Thai Development workers and Premchai’s friends parked in front of Thong Pha Phum Prison in Kanchanaburi. All photos: Naewna
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Tycoon jailed for 2 years and 6 months in poaching case
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