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Published on August 10, 2007

Former director-general of the Royal Forestry Department Plodpra-sop Suraswadi has been found guilty of involvement in the export of 100 Bengal tigers - a protected species - to China, Klanarong Chantik, spokesman for the National Counter Corruption Commission, said yesterday.

The NCCC yesterday discussed the scandal, which took place in 2002, and found that Plodprasop's approval to export the tigers was a serious disciplinary violation and also a criminal offence.

Klanarong said the conclusion was reached after the NCCC interviewed 18 witnesses and studied documents related to the issue. He said the NCCC would send its resolution to Plodprasop's supervisor for disciplinary punishment and to the Office of the Attorney-General to process for criminal action.

A source in the NCCC said the members spent more than five hours discussing the matter. One point of concern was the relationship between Thailand and China. The NCCC was also concerned about the possibility that Plodprasop might file a legal suit against it, said the source, who asked not to be named.

Plodprasop was not available for comment yesterday.

Yesterday's NCCC resolution contradicted a conclusion reached earlier by a government panel that investigated claims of disciplinary violations by Plodprasop. The panel, chaired by Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan, concluded in 2005 that Plodprasop did not violate any regulations in allowing the export of the tigers.

In 2002, Plodprasop, as director-general of the RFD, allowed Sri Racha Tiger Zoo to export 100 Bengal tigers to a zoo on the island of Hainan. As the tiger is a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, exports can only be carried out between governments and only for research and education.

Klanarong said the NCCC considered the export authorised by Plodprasop was meant to benefit zoo operators.