Tycoon had 2 banned firearms
Construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta is likely to face firearms charges after police determined that at least two of the weapons seized from his house earlier are on a list of weapons that are banned in Thailand, a police source said yesterday.
The fresh charges are expected after forensic police and officials from the Interior Ministry inspected 40 firearms seized from his home on Feb 7 on Soi Soonvijai in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district. Most were guns with long barrels.
Police found a self-assembling air rifle, a type of firearm prohibited under both the firearms law and a ministerial regulation passed in 1979, according to a source.
The attached offence would be the illegal manufacture and possession of firearms without permission.
Officers also found a 9mm automatic handgun with a 420mm barrel, outlawed under the same 1979 regulation, the source added.
This carries a potential charge of illegal possession of firearms. Thai law bans barrels longer than 160mm.
The source said authorities have yet to find documents for another eight firearms seized from the house.
Mr Premchai, president of SET-listed Italian-Thai Development Plc, was caught with three others in possession of the carcasses of several endangered animals at the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, a world heritage site, on Feb 4.
The pelts of 10 protected animals — including a rare black leopard reportedly riddled with bullet holes — were uncovered near his illegal camping ground along with three long-barrelled weapons and ammunition.
Thong Pha Phum police have pressed multiple charges including poaching against Mr Premchai and the other members of his party. They have all denied the allegations.
Bail was set at 150,000 baht each. They are due to appear in court on March 26.