INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFP/Getty ImagesImage caption
Premchai Karnasuta was once among Thailand's 50 richest people, according
to Forbes
The head of one of Thailand's largest construction firms has been sentenced to 16 months in jail on three poaching
charges but is free pending an appeal.Premchai Karnasuta was caught with hunting gear and animal carcasses, including a black panther, in a
protected sanctuary in February 2018.Three of his employees, but not Premchai, were found guilty on Tuesday of possessing the panther
carcass.The case had sparked an outcry over the impunity of the rich and powerful
Premchai is head of Italian-Thai Development, a Bangkok-based firm that helped build the capital's Suvarnabhumi airport and Skytrain rail
link.The high-profile case has been closely followed in Thailand, where convictions for poaching happen often but rarely when it comes to
prominent people.What happened in courtThe 64-year-old was found guilty of possessing the carcass of a Kalij pheasant and firearms in public
areas, and supporting others to hunt in a protected wildlife sanctuary.Image copyrightEPAImage caption
Authorities
released photos of Premchai with hunting gear and animal carcasses
His cook and driver were given lesser sentences, while
his hunting guide was the only one found guilty of hunting and was sentenced to three years and five months.Premchai was granted bail of
magnate after finding him and three others camped at Thungyai Naresuan national park.The men were found with three rifles, 143 bullets and
other hunting tools, and a slain black panther, Kalij pheasant and barking deer - all protected species under Thai conservation law.Image
copyrightEPAImage caption
This image went viral and inspired protests and graffiti calling for an investigation
The wildlife sanctuary in western Thailand is home to wild elephants, tigers and many endangered species, according to Thailand's
Wildlife Friends Foundation.What is the reactionLocal wildlife groups praised the authorities for detaining the four men last year
Striking images of the skinned black panther went viral and inspired protests and graffiti across Bangkok calling for an investigation.Some
political parties have even used the photos in their campaigning ahead of Sunday's general election, vowing for an improved justice
system."Justice is meted out unequally," Steve Galster of wildlife organisation Freeland Foundation told news agency AFP
"The main thing is this is a public shaming [for Premchai]," he said, adding he hopes the court "will stick with the decision" after his
