A COURT in Kanchaburi province yesterday set March to deliver a ruling on the much-talked-about trial against a construction billionaire who is accused of poaching in a wildlife sanctuary.

Defence witnesses on Wednesday gave the testimonies in the trial of a billionaire construction tycoon accused of leading a poaching expedition that killed a black leopard in a Kanchanaburi wildlife sanctuary earlier this year.

CONSTRUCTION TYCOON Premchai Karnasuta said he was “excited” to be appearing in court in Kanchanaburi’s Thong Pa Phum district yesterday to defend himself on poaching-related charges.

Construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta said he was excited when he appeared at court in Kanchanaburi’s Thong Pa Phum district on Wednesday to defend himself on poaching-related charges.

Various “volunteer-spirit tourist” groups comprising 43 off-road trucks were not allowed to enter Kanchanaburi’s Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary during December 8-9 because they failed to adhere to the rules and conditions for gaining access, according to sanctuary chief Wichien Chinnawong.

Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary assistant chief Piyapong Seubsen took the stand on Thursday in the hearing against corporate chief Premchai Karnasuta and three associates in the “black panther” poaching case.

“AT THE HEART of the success of wildlife conservation is the forest. With healthy forests and habitats, wild animals can survive. Such a principle is easily comprehensible even by those who do not have much knowledge.”

Two more bloated carcasses of gaurs were found in Kanchanaburi on Friday, bringing to eight the total number of the very rare wild cattle found dead near the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Two more bloated carcasses of gaurs were found in Kanchanaburi's Sangkhlaburi on Thursday, bringing the total number of gaurs found dead near the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary to six.

Police plea for three more charges turned down by attorney general

THREE MONTHS after Italian-Thai Construction president Premchai Karnasuta was arrested in a wildlife sanctuary where the butchered fresh meat of an endangered black leopard was found, public prosecutors have resolved to lay six charges against him.

THE NATIONAL Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has assessed the damage allegedly caused by construction magnate Premchai Karnasuta and three other suspects to the ecology of Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary to be worth Bt12.75 million, a source said yesterday.

A CIVIL suit against Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, for damaging the ecology and environment at Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary would be the first of its kind, if prosecutors decide to pursue the case.

PUBLIC PROSECUTORS have suggested that police collect evidence to file a civil suit against a high-profile construction tycoon for allegedly damaging the ecology and environment in Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, where he had allegedly been poaching.

Stencil of black leopard painted over for unknown reasons.