webfact Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Pressure mounts against Premchai amid rumours By KORNKAMON AKSORNDEJ, SURIYA PATATAYO THE NATION Police deny speculation mogul has fled country but tighten border controls THE WHEREABOUTS of Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, were unknown yesterday as police continued to gather evidence and pressure mounted against the construction mogul over poaching-related charges. Meanwhile, Premchai’s lawyer could appear on his behalf at Kanchanaburi Court today, prolonging speculation that the high-profile businessman might choose to abscond given the unrelenting scandal surrounding his recent arrest. However, Premchai’s lawyer made an appointment with the court for him to appear on March 26, deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibhramanakul said. The construction mogul has not been seen in public since he was arrested on February 4 and freed the following day after being charged with nine counts relating to poaching and hunting in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. The tycoon and three other suspects, all of whom were captured near a campsite in the sanctuary, have denied the charges. Srivara earlier denied rumours that the billionaire mogul had already left Thailand and taken shelter in a neighbouring country. However, he told reporters that he had ordered border checkpoints to tighten screening measures to prevent Premchai from fleeing the country. “We expect that the investigation into the charges, including the gathering of evidence, will not take more than a month,” he said. Before Premchai and his companions were caught in a restricted area in the wildlife sanctuary, his aide reportedly told wildlife officials that he wanted to “study nature” during a trip in the sanctuary. However, at his campsite, forest rangers found the remains of endangered animals, including that of a black leopard and barking deer, as well as several hunting rifles. Police were examining the confiscated evidence, including carcasses, the leopard’s skin and the firearms, Srivara said, adding that forensics officials were also testing four ivory tusks seized from Premchai’s Bangkok house to determine whether they matched a permit he possessed. Forensic officials found animal bones and pieces of intestine during a subsequent visit to the campsite to collect the evidences. The last items were found in a creek near the campsite. The remains were believed to include the leopard’s leg bones, two bone fragments and part of its large intestine. “On the leg bones, there was still meat attached. We believe someone ripped the meat off and threw away the bones,” Srivara said. Police also examined locations where the leopard could have been shot based on where its hair had been found. “It is possible that after being shot, the animal ran away and died at a spot where its excrement was found,” he added. Officials believe that the animal was butchered at a site nearby where 17 kilograms of intestines were found, although there were no traces of blood. Kanchanaburi police plan to issue an additional charge against Premchai of cruelty to animals, if he appears today. Meanwhile, Pol Maj-General Kamol Rienracha, commander of police’s Counter Corruption Division, said his unit had been assigned to gather evidence against Premchai after he allegedly offered bribes to officials to release him after he had been arrested. In connection to those allegations, he will be summoned to meet police next Thursday at 10am. Premchai and his companions allegedly tried to offer benefits to forest rangers after they were arrested. A ranger recorded the alleged negotiations and presented the audio tape to police. The investigation has also expanded to property owned by Premchai in a mountainous area of Loei province, which is being examined to determine if it encroaches upon state-owned land. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338975 -- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davehowden Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 I guess it would be too difficult to confiscate his passport/ put him under house arrest/ make him post a 50 million baht bond? As in so many of these cases the authorities are just hoping he will "disappear" and save them the bother of actually doing their jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 2 hours ago, davehowden said: I guess it would be too difficult to confiscate his passport/ put him under house arrest/ make him post a 50 million baht bond? As in so many of these cases the authorities are just hoping he will "disappear" and save them the bother of actually doing their jobs. Ha ha - house arrest! Not quite the same, but wasn't Yingluck being watched/followed by whichever police group was assigned to the task? Yup, they must have followed her all the way to the border. I bet Fatso has a few other nationality passports already, confiscating his Thai passport won't affect anything. No, my mistake, it will: It will save face for the MOFA who issue passports, after it's realised he's fled the country. I do agree with your second point about saving the bother for the authorities to do their job. That includes the embarrassment and difficulty they would have of prosecuting someone rich and powerful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramrod711 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 3 hours ago, webfact said: Srivara earlier denied rumours that the billionaire mogul had already left Thailand and taken shelter in a neighbouring country. If he hasn't already fled the country, he could use the other reliable method of escaping responsibility and become a monk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkidlad Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 They sure do put on a great show here. Hollywood couldn’t dream this kinda story up. Sadly, this is real life and another reminder of how things work for the rich and powerful here. Who knows, maybe he’ll pop up to tell us all he’s here and waiting to be dealt with accordingly by law. He’s been missing for how long now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebell Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Upon arrest, all Hi-so suspects should have their assets frozen immediately. This would make it a wrench to flee Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 18 minutes ago, ramrod711 said: If he hasn't already fled the country, he could use the other reliable method of escaping responsibility and become a monk. The initial reaction (for me) was to laugh when I read your comment. Then two seconds later I stopped - we know that it is absolutely depressing, because it's true. Thai Buddhism - the real-life Monopoly 'get of jail free' card. edit: [Sarcasm mode: on] I just looked up 'responsibility' in my English-Thai dictionary. There's no entry for it. [Sarcasm mode: off] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 14 minutes ago, mikebell said: Upon arrest, all Hi-so suspects should have their assets frozen immediately. This would make it a wrench to flee Thailand. Sadly, they'd just pay the bribes from one of their multiple foreign bank accounts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 23 minutes ago, rkidlad said: They sure do put on a great show here. Hollywood couldn’t dream this kinda story up. Sadly, this is real life and another reminder of how things work for the rich and powerful here. Who knows, maybe he’ll pop up to tell us all he’s here and waiting to be dealt with accordingly by law. He’s been missing for how long now? Wake up, wake up! You're having a nightmare... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z42 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Jesus how much evidence do they need to nail this despicable old gastropont? They've already let him slip away on an eye wateringly lenient bail so why prolong the charade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOC Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Wow....they are really going after Mr. Premchai.... Has the justice system sudden improved in Thailand? Are the rich and mighty suddenly not above the law? Has animal protection finally got powerful backers? OR Is he paying the price, because he is a long time friend of Thaksin and a supporter of the reds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 25 minutes ago, JOC said: Wow....they are really going after Mr. Premchai.... Has the justice system sudden improved in Thailand? Are the rich and mighty suddenly not above the law? Has animal protection finally got powerful backers? OR Is he paying the price, because he is a long time friend of Thaksin and a supporter of the reds? I didn't know he was a friend of Thaksin? There again, if the rich can network between themselves and make even more money, it's no real surprise. But I wouldn't have though he was a supporter of the reds? A super-rich guy and a group who are perceived to represent ordinary working folk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoon Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 39 minutes ago, bluesofa said: I didn't know he was a friend of Thaksin? There again, if the rich can network between themselves and make even more money, it's no real surprise. But I wouldn't have though he was a supporter of the reds? A super-rich guy and a group who are perceived to represent ordinary working folk? More surprises await you on the other side of the river. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan B Tong Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 He be gone long time already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeptic7 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 All the hi-so a$$-holes get away here... Thaksin #1 Red Bull heir Tiger Temple monk Dhammajayo several other high profile monks Thaksin #2 Now this fat bastard Pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 6 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said: All the hi-so a$$-holes get away here... Thaksin #1 Red Bull heir Tiger Temple monk Dhammajayo several other high profile monks Thaksin #2 Now this fat bastard Pathetic As an aside, your description of the ITD boss. While agreeing with you, I'm sure the b*****d word depending on the forum you use it on, will probably envoke a mod response, or an auto-delete on some forum spellcheckers? For that reason I now always refer to him as Fatso. as it seems more descriptive too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeptic7 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 45 minutes ago, bluesofa said: As an aside, your description of the ITD boss. While agreeing with you, I'm sure the b*****d word depending on the forum you use it on, will probably envoke a mod response, or an auto-delete on some forum spellcheckers? For that reason I now always refer to him as Fatso. as it seems more descriptive too. I like it! Much more gentlemanly too. I have however, used pretty much all the "4-letter words" (among others longer) in my extensive ungentlemanly arsenal...and now know which are and are not permitted here on TV. haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesSwann Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 He's not going to do a runner over something like this. The issue is too small (ie. not enough Thai people care that much about conservation which is at odds with economics) and this guy is too big. They can't in any case prove he pulled the trigger. He's probably on holiday. He'll eventually be slapped with a fine and that will be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acharn Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 7 hours ago, davehowden said: I guess it would be too difficult to confiscate his passport/ put him under house arrest/ make him post a 50 million baht bond? As in so many of these cases the authorities are just hoping he will "disappear" and save them the bother of actually doing their jobs. It's good that we have members who are able to read the minds of Thai officials whom I suspect they have never met. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" Do you also have the power to cloud men't minds so they cannot see you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 No charges for spoiling Thailands reputation?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 2 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said: No charges for spoiling Thailands reputation?? Charge who - the petition signatories or the avid watch collector? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coulson Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 7 hours ago, Skeptic7 said: All the hi-so a$$-holes get away here... Thaksin #1 Red Bull heir Tiger Temple monk Dhammajayo several other high profile monks Thaksin #2 Now this fat bastard Pathetic You forgot to add all the military guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artisi Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 11 hours ago, mikebell said: Upon arrest, all Hi-so suspects should have their assets frozen immediately. This would make it a wrench to flee Thailand. Why, if dead friends can loan very expensive watches, can't see why a thousand or 2 couldn't be arranged at short notice. Plus doubt that a guy like this has all in spare cash in a Thai bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcatcher Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 8 hours ago, CharlesSwann said: He's not going to do a runner I think you are right there...... maybe a waddle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 12 minutes ago, ratcatcher said: I think you are right there...... maybe a waddle? Or just a wobble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 On 2/16/2018 at 4:39 AM, webfact said: Premchai Karnasuta Prawit's salvation? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-16/thai-mogul-busted-with-black-leopard-soup-but-will-he-walk-free/9456394?utm_source=quora Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artisi Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 56 minutes ago, Srikcir said: Prawit's salvation? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-16/thai-mogul-busted-with-black-leopard-soup-but-will-he-walk-free/9456394?utm_source=quora good precise article, should be a lot more of them, shame the local guys are held back by the short and curlies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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