Kaeng Krachan park chief to fight probe team's decision

The chief of the Kaeng Krachan National Park will appeal against a police investigation team's decision not to prosecute a commissioned police officer on charges of illegal hunting.

"I will write to the governor of Phetchaburi," park chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn said yesterday. "It will be unfair to people if that police officer is not prosecuted even though there is solid evidence against him."

Police investigators recommended that all the other eight suspects be prosecuted, but spared Pol Lt-Colonel Thirayuth Ketmangmee, a deputy inspector at the Pran Buri Police Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

The alleged illegal hunting took place at the Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province in November last year.

While Thirayuth is seen in photographs with all the other suspects, investigators said the images did not show him hunting. Besides, they said, the photographs were not dated.

Chaiwat, however, insisted that a few minutes after the park officials arrested all the other suspects, Thirayuth walked out of a dark corner and surrendered.

Police spokesman Maj-General Piya Uthayo yesterday dismissed any suggestion that the police investigators are trying to protect their colleague.

"The chief of the investigation team is the Kaeng Krachan district chief," he pointed out, adding that investigators said that Thirayuth was not carrying a gun at the time of the arrest.

"But once the investigation report is submitted to public prosecutors, it's possible that they will ask for an additional probe," he said. According to Piya, National Police Commissioner General Adul Saengsingkaeo has already assigned his deputies General Pansiri Praphawat and General Ek Angsananont to oversee this case.

"We will ensure justice to all sides," Piya said.