Forest policeman arrested for rosewood theft

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In: South-East Asia

Discussed: 12 Nov 2024 at 14: 40

UPDATED: 12 Nov 2024 at 14: 52

Wood from protected trees seized from illegal loggers and stored at Warich-Panna forest protection unit in Sakon Nakhon, where intruders stole 19 phayung (Siamese rosewood) logs and two guns and assaulted three officials on the night of Nov 9. (Photo: Sakon Nakhon public relations office)
Wood from protected trees that illegal loggers had seized and were being kept at the Sakon Nakhon forest protection system, where intruders robbed three officials on November 9 and assaulted three of them. ( Photo: Sakon Nakhon public relations office )

After invaders attacked team and then stole two firearms and 19 phayung logs from a forest restoration unit in Sakon Nakhon state on Saturday, a former timber police officer was detained in Udon Thani.

Theptawan Suriyamart of the Srithat forest unit in Udon Thani was detained on a warrant issued by the Sakon Nakhon Criminal Court, according to Surachai Achalaboon, director-general of the Royal Forestry Department ( RFD ). &nbsp,

The 6th forest management company in Udon Thani had since dismissed&nbsp, Pol Sgt Theptawan from the company, Mr Surachai said.

He faces charges of colluding in fraud, armed intrusion, real assault or using violence or threatening to use violence, causing home injury, improper confinement and carrying firearms illegally in public, the RFD commander said.

On November 9 at the Warit-Panna forest protection unit in tambon Kud Takab in the Waritchaphum district, at least five men were involved in the robbery.

Three forest officials were beaten, tied up, and assaulted. The thieves left with 19 phayung ( Siamese rosewood ) logs worth about 800, 000 baht. Additionally, they robbed two firearms.

About 9 a.m. on Tuesday, police stopped a pickup truck on the road 227 to Waritchaphum in the Wang Sam Mo district of Udon Thani and took Pol Sgt Theptawan into custody, which is located about 47 kilometers away from the crime scene. The pickup truck and his cell phone were both impounded. &nbsp,

Police at Waritchaphum Police Station later turned over Pol Sgt Theptawan for legal action.

Sakon Nakhon governor Chusak Rooying, white T-shirt, leads senior officials to inspect logs and wood planks being kept at Warich-Panna forest protection unit in Sakon Nakhon on Monday. (Photo: Sakon Nakhon public relations office)

Sakon Nakhon governor Chusak Rooying, white uniform shirt, and local officials at the scene of the crime, Warich-Panna forest protection unit in Sakon Nakhon, on Monday. ( Photo: Sakon Nakhon public relations office )