Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Conservation Centre Chief Piyawat Sukon told The Phuket News today (May 22) that the arrest took place at 9pm.
Officers from Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Conservation Centre together with police officers attached to the Region 5 office of the Division of Crime Suppression of Natural Resources and Environment made the arrest.
Also present were officers from Phuket office of the Royal Forest Department, he added.
“The officers arrested Nares Sang-agart, 32, after he was found carrying a slow loris, about one year six months old,” Chief Piyawat said.
“Officers were checking along Patak Rd when they saw Mr Nares holding a slow loris while standing in front of the temple. The officers checked and found that Mr Nares has no permit to possess a protected wildlife animal,” he added.
Mr Nares told the officers that he had the slow loris so that he could charge tourists B50 to B100 to have their photo taken with it, Mr Piyawat said.
“But he said that he did not know that the slow loris was protected wildlife,” he added.
“Officers charged Mr Nares with possession of protected wildlife without permission in accordance with the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 1992. Mr Nares gave confessed to the charge,” Chief Piyawat confirmed.
“Mr Nares was taken to Karon Police Station to be formally processed,” he said.
“The slow loris has been brought back to the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Conservation Centre, where it will be cared for,” he added.
Mr Piyawat also pointed out, “Mr Nares was arrested for doing the same thing at Bang Tao Beach last year.”