Wildlife official faces grilling over 'collusion' with Premchai

Noppadol Preuksawan, former director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, was summoned for questioning on Thursday over construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta's poaching of protected animals.

Noppadol: Due to give statement today

The ex-director of the office, which falls under the umbrella of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, is scheduled to provide a statement on the case at the Counter Corruption Division today, division chief Kamol Rianracha said.

Investigators will focus on on a statement given by Wichien Chinawong, chief of the Western Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi.

Mr Wichien claims Mr Premchai said he would ask Mr Noppadol to help him find a way out of his current situation. The business tycoon was arrested at the sanctuary last month.

Pol Maj Gen Kamol said a team of investigators must wait to hear Mr Noppadol's testimony today before deciding on whether any legal action will be brought against the former director.

Also yesterday, deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said police again questioned Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn, head of the department's Phaya Suea task force, over the allegation that Mr Premchai and his three hunting companions had damaged state-protected natural resources. Mr Chaiwat said department director-general Thanya Nethithammakul assigned him to assess the damage and compile evidence in order to bring a civil suit against the suspects.

The losses caused by the suspects' poaching, resulting in the deaths of protected species, now stands at 3 million baht.

But Mr Chaiwat said the amount was only calculated based on the damage inflicted to the animals, not to the ecosystem. He said this was the country's first civil case regarding damage to wildlife.

Mr Premchai and his entourage were arrested by wildlife officials on suspicion of poaching in the wildlife sanctuary on Feb 4.

Officials found the carcasses of protected species, including the pelt of a black Indochinese leopard, as well as a knife and cutting blocks with traces of the leopard's DNA at the suspects' camp.