A former construction tycoon, Premchai Karnasuta, was released from on parole from prison today (Tuesday), after serving a jail term for poaching in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province in December 2021.

He was released on parole after his three years and two months jail term was reduced, resulting in his prison term ending this December.

Premchai, 68, was seen being escorted from the prison to a waiting minivan, where his lawyer, Witton Yimprai, was waiting.Before his sentence w as reduced, he was to stay in prison until June next year.

Premchai, a former president of Italian-Thai Development Plc, will not have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet while on parole, because the Corrections Department fears that the device would aggravate wounds on his ankles caused by diabetes.

Premchai was arrested in December 2021 at his campsite in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, along with his former driver, Yong Dodkruea, 68, and his hunting companion, Thanee Thummat.

Carcasses of protected animals, including rare black leopard, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer, were found at his campsite.