Police Arrest Park Workers Over Killings

[Flashermac]

PHETCHABURI : Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Chaiwat Limlikit-auksorn was yesterday temporarily transferred out of Phetchaburi province while police continue their investigation into the killings of five wild elephants in the park.

 

Police yesterday arrested four out of five suspects, all of whom are employees at Kaeng Krachan park.

 

Damrong Phidej, the director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said Mr Chaiwat will work at the department's headquarters in Bangkok until the investigation is complete.

 

He said this did not mean Mr Chaiwat is suspected of being involved in the crime but his five subordinates, including his assistant, are wanted by police in connection with the elephant killings.

When the case is resolved and the police have found the "real killers", Mr Chaiwat will be allowed to resume his post at the park, said Mr Damrong.

 

The four Kaeng Krachan National Park employees _ Surin Maikaew, Mana Nokkaew, Jinda Phuangmalai and Phol Thomya _ were taken into custody a day after warrants were issued for their arrest.

 

Suriyont Photibandit, Mr Chaiwat's assistant, is still at large.

 

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Pansiri Praphawat said two of the four detained suspects had confessed to burning the elephant carcasses and extracting their tusks while the other two denied any wrongdoing.

 

The ones who admitted burning the carcasses claimed they did so because the animals were rotting after having been shot dead several days before, said Pol Gen Pansiri.

 

They also said it was Mr Suriyont who took the elephant tusks away, said Pol Gen Pansiri.

 

Police investigators say they already know where tyres used to burn the carcasses on Jan 1 and Jan 2 came from. Pol Gen Pansiri added that police were still investigating a group of individuals who are believed to be responsible for killing the elephants.

 

He said Mr Chaiwat, the national park chief, had contacted investigators saying Mr Suriyont was still on assignment at Thap Lan National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

Mr Chaiwat told police that his deputy would turn himself in to authorities by Tuesday.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk, however, said the five suspects were facing charges associated with their alleged roles in burning the elephant carcasses, not poaching them.

 

That explained why the ministry had set up a fact-finding panel to look into the case and find out who actually shot the elephants, he said.

 

The panel was expected to complete its task within a week, said the minister.

 

 

 

 

BP