A bushranger caught hunting Pulu tortoises in Pha Daeng National Park along with 17 confiscated items. He confessed to having accepted sales orders to capitalists at 2,400 baht per kilogram.
On April 18, 2024, Prakasit Rawiwan, head of Pha Daeng National Park, revealed that Pha Daeng National Park, together with the Chaiyanupap Special Military Team of Pha Dong Division, jointly established a checkpoint to control people entering the forest. Following the tiger guarding the forest in the Ban Rin Luang area, village no. 3, Mueang Na Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province, at approximately 9.30pm on April 17, a man was found driving a motorcycle suspiciously passing through a checkpoint.
Officers then searched and found 17 Pulu turtles in bags of fertilizer hidden in a backpack. One died, weighing a total of 7.8 kilograms. Since the Pulu tortoise is a protected wild animal, category 1, under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 2019, no one is allowed to hunt, trade or possess, including the carcasses of such wild animals. Anyone who violates the law is guilty of a crime.
From the investigation, Mr. Yuda, 50 years old, the defendant, testified that he was hired by Mr. Daeng. Surname unknown, originally from Phrao district, Chiang Mai province. They met when they went to work together in Chiang Mai about a month ago. who have been in contact via Facebook chat
Upon inspection, we found messages of conversations about buying and selling Pulu turtles and setting delivery appointments, with Mr. Daeng hired to find Pulu turtles. The price is 2,400 baht per kilogram, which Mr Yuda said that from April 6, 2024, it took about 10 days to hunt and made an appointment to send the turtles to Ban Huai Pa Hom, village No. 5, Thung Khao Phuang Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province until his arrest.
After that, the officer took Mr. Yuda with him to show him the scene where he had captured the Pulu turtle from the forest upstream of Ban Na Siri. Huai Nam Huang or Huai Pha Daeng area which is located in the Pha Daeng National Park area
Initially the officers had reported the accusations. 1. Taking out wild animals or causing harm to wild animals in any way in the national park area under the National Parks Act 2019, section 19 (3) and section 43. Anyone who breaches this shall be punished with imprisonment no more of five years or a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand baht or both
2. Enter the national park They must comply with the orders of officials who directed them to comply with the regulations established by the Director General in accordance with the National Park Act 2019, Section 20 and Section 47 in accordance with the announcement of Pha Daeng National Park, dated January 31, 2024, relating to the ban on entry into the forest area of Pha Daeng National Park. Anyone who violates the law will be punished. Fine not exceeding one hundred thousand baht
3. Hunting of protected wildlife under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2019, Section 12 and Section 89. Anyone who violates the law will be punished by imprisonment not exceeding ten years or a fine not exceeding one million baht. or both
4. Possession of protected wild animals or protected wildlife carcasses under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2019, Section 17 and Section 92. Anyone violating this shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand baht . or both
5, Trade in protected wildlife That wild animal carcasses or products from such wild animal carcasses according to the Wild Animal Preservation and Protection Act of 2019, section 29 and section 89. Whoever violates the law will be punished with imprisonment not exceeding to ten years or a fine not exceeding one million baht. or both
Initially, officials arrested Mr. Yuda, the accused, and sent him to Na Wai Police Station for legal action, and will expand the findings to find participants in the movement to prosecute according to the law. As for the captured Pulu turtles, officials will release them back into the wild.
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