KANCHANABURI: The uncle of one of the 11 people arrested on suspicion of poaching wildlife in Sai Yok National Park over the weekend has admitted being with the party, but denied evading arrest.
Somkiat Pheung-naren, who faces a charge of illegal hunting, reported to police in neighbouring Ratchaburi province, to the south, on Wednesday to deny all charges.
Mr Somkiat said he neither evaded arrest nor hunted any animals.
He admitted travelling in one of the six vehicles stopped by park rangers as they were leaving Sai Yok park on Sunday.
Mr Somkiat said park officials did not detain him or even ask to see his ID card. He had stayed in the area until 9pm and then decided to return to his home in Ban Kha district in Ratchaburi.
Mr Somkiat said he went into the park to make merit at a forest monastery with his niece, not to hunt wildlife.
He was later taken to Sai Yok police station in Kanchanaburi for further questioning.
Those arrested on Sunday included Watcharachai Samirak, deputy chief of Dan Makham Tia district, who was removed from his position on Monday by the provincial governor.
Panatchakorn Phobandit, chief of Sai Yok National Park in Kanchanaburi, said earlier on Wednesday that photos taken at the time of the arrests showed a man in a blue T-shirt and wearing a shoulder bag, but he was not among those taken into custody.
He had apparently exploited the commotion and slipped away, Mr Panatchakorn said.
The mystery man was later identified as Mr Watcharachai's uncle, Somkiat Pheung-naren. (continues below)
Eleven suspects were detained. They were found in possession of a hunting rifle fitted with a silencer, a pistol, ammunition and four binturong (bearcat) paws weighing 920 grammes.
They face 10 charges, including possession of wildlife carcasses, poaching and discharging a firearm in a national park. All were granted court bail on Tuesday.
Mr Panatchakorn brushed aside concerns that the fleeing man may have shot the bearcat and the case may not be watertight. The evidence to hand was solid enough to tie the suspects in with the offence. Gunpowder residue was found on several of the suspects, the park chief said.
Officials would on Wednesday continue the search for more evidence in the area around Wat Tao Dam, the forest temple where the suspects were believed to have made merit and set up camp nearby.
They would focus on a creek near the campsite where wildlife carcasses were believed to have been discarded, he said.
