A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Forest Department official, based at a forest protection unit in Waritchaphum district of Sakhon Nakhon, on suspicion of involvement in the stealing of Siamese Rosewood logs, worth about 800,000-baht, and two service pistols.
Five men, armed with guns and knives, raided a forest protection unit in Ban Kut Takarb in Waritchaphum district last Saturday night, assaulted the three officials on duty there and tied them up before they took 20 Siamese Rosewood logs and robbed them of two service pistols.
Forest Department Director-General Surachai Achalaboon told Thai PBS Online news that the provincial court has already issued a warrant for the arrest of Sgt Theptawan Suriyamat for alleged involvement in the robbery, adding that the suspect has already been dismissed from the service.
He said that Theptawan was recruited about five years ago and used to work at the Ban Kut Takarb forest protection unit, but was transferred to Udon Thani about a year ago due to poor performance and absenteeism.
He also disclosed that some armed men unsuccessfully tried to rob the forest protection unit on September 8th.
The stolen Siamese Rosewood lumber had been confiscated by forest officials in May, 2011.
