MAY 2018 FORBES ASIA | 75A
team of rangers
encircled the
wealthy hunter
camping in a remote
wildlife retreat, seizing
irearms and the pelt
of a rare black leop-
ard. Inside a tent they
found remains of other
protected animals: bark-
ing deer and wild kalij
pheasants. When they
were ofered cash and
favors, they adamantly
refused, levying corrup-
tion charges against the
tycoon brazenly hunting
in a world heritage site in
the west of hailand.
It sounds like
a sensational TV
crime drama, but hailand was gripped by this
real-life scandal in February with the arrest of
Premchai Karnasuta, 64, managing director
of SET-listed construction irm Italian-hai
Development. His picture was splashed across
newspapers, caught on the scene.
Premchai and his sister Nijaporn Charana-
chitta were among the country’s richest until
2016, when they were listed at No. 35 with a
combined fortune of $630 million. (hey have
since lagged the 50 list cutof as the government
delayed infrastructure spending, hitting their
stock price.) Italian-hai, which marks its 60th
anniversary this year, helped build both the
BTS and MRT mass-transit lines in Bangkok
and is in the running for numerous other rail
projects around the country. he siblings’
hospitality arm, Onyx, is overseen by Nijaporn’s
son Yuthachai.
Premchai was apprehended in the hung
Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, where hunt-
ing is strictly prohibited. A subsequent raid of
Premchai’s home unearthed tusks from Africanelephants and guns. Charged with poach-
ing protected wildlife, possessing unlicensed
weapons and bribing state oicials, he was let
out on bail; he still has to face trial. Oicials
at Italian-hai declined to discuss the case,
and Premchai did not respond to requests for
comment.
he case continued to dominate news for
weeks, prompting widespread public outrage
and condemnation from wildlife and conser-
vation groups. Protesters wore black leopard
masks. “he hai public are enraged, and the
need to protect the country’s wildlife is stronger
than ever,” says Nuthatai Chotechuang, hailand
representative for the U.S. NGO WildAid.
“Poaching of all animals is unfortunately
very high in Southeast Asian forests,” says the
head of a major hai conservation group. he
real surprise, he added, was that charges were
pressed against someone so rich and powerful.
Unless this case is prosecuted fully, he added,
“this won’t be a deterrent to others—rich or
poor—from acting similiarly.”
—Ron GluckmanPoaching Scandal
PREMCHAI KARNASUTARoughing it: Premchai Karnasuta apprehended and charged with
poaching at the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in February.- SATHIEN SETTHASIT
$915 MILLION S
CARABAO GROUP AGE: 64 - WITOON
SURIYAWANAKUL
$910 MILLION S
SIAM GLOBAL HOUSE AGE: 60 - JAREEPORN
JARUKORNSAKUL
$820 MILLION 3
WHA AGE: 50 - BOONCHAI
BENCHARONGKUL
$800 MILLION S
TOTAL ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS
AGE: 64 - CHALERM HARNPHANICH
$730 MILLION S
BANGKOK CHAIN HOSPITAL AGE: 65 - SUWIN &
TANYAPON KRAIBHUBES
$715 MILLION Ì
BEAUTY COMMUNITY AGE: 51, 49 - VIRIYAHBHUN FAMILY
$710 MILLION S
VIRIYAH INSURANCE - KRAISORN CHANSIRI
$700 MILLION
THAI UNION GROUP AGE: 83 - WORAWIT
WEERABORWORNPONG
$695 MILLION 3
SIAMGAS & PETROCHEMICALS
AGE: 73 - VICHAI MALEENONT
$680 MILLION T
BEC WORLD AGE: 98 - SARAWUT PORNPATANARUK
$675 MILLION Ì
DO DAY DREAM AGE: 41 - PRANEETSILPA
VACHARAPHOL
$670 MILLION T
THAI RATH AGE: 86 - WINAI
TEAWSOMBOONKIJ
$665 MILLION T
THAIFOODS GROUP AGE: 55 - PARPHAN SIRIVIRIYAKUL
$660 MILLION
KASET THAI INTERNATIONAL
SUGAR AGE: 65 - NUTCHAMAI
THANOMBOONCHAROEN
$640 MILLION
CARABAO GROUP AGE: 56 - ITTHIPAT PEERADECHAPAN
$600 MILLION
TAOKAENOI FOOD & MARKETING
AGE: 33
THE LIST
SUP MORE THAN 10% TDOWN MORE THAN 10%
ÌNEW TO LIST^3 RETURNEETHAILAND DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS, WILDLIFE AND PLANT CONSERVATION VIA AP