The confirmation came through a notice posted by the Phuket Provincial Police today (Mar 8), stating that the charges of assault causing bodily harm were confirmed yesterday (Mar 7). On the same day, the case was handed over to the Phuket Prosecutor’s Office.
Also yesterday, Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham chaired a meeting of the task force set up by Governor Sophon Suwannarat to review any bad behavior by foreigners.
Vice Governor Sattha ordered relevant officials to prepare all the evidence to support Mr. Fehr’s visa revocation on the grounds of him being “a threat to society.” This move was approved by the Region 6 Immigration Bureau yesterday.
Vice Governor Sattha said the Swiss founder of the Green Elephant Sanctuary has the right to appeal and may use it. Relevant officials should be ready to prove their point, he stressed.
The operations of Fehr’s elephant park, and anything else related to him or his wife, are now under intense scrutiny following orders from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, and national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol.
Dozens of foreigners have been arrested since the beginning of the crackdown on all expats and tourists suspected of overstaying their visas or working illegally in Phuket and other tourist provinces.
In one of the cases, Suratthani Police (now led by Gen Maj Sermphan Sirikong) raided a foreign kindergarten and arrested eight foreigners. About 20 children witnessed the operation.