Park officials have added animal cruelty to the charges against construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta, who was arrested early this month for allegedly hunting wildlife in a World Heritage forest. Pol Maj Gen Krisana Sapdej, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 7, Kanchanaburi, said officials of the Western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary filed the complaint of animal cruelty on Monday. The 63-year-old construction tycoon and his three companions were already facing nine charges, including unauthorised hunting in a wildlife sanctuary, unauthorised hunting of protected wildlife, unauthorised possession of wildlife carcasses and attempted hunting in a wildlife sanctuary. On Tuesday officials of the Western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary handed over a Toyota Land Cruiser to police for further examination. Mr Premchai's group had used it to enter the wildlife sanctuary.

Source: Bangkok Post February 13, 2018 08:03 UTC