A 60-year-old man was arrested in Mae Taeng last night accused of starting forest fires.
Authorities hunting down a fire detected on satellite in the Huai Rin Forest Conservation Area in Moo 5 Pa Pae, Mae Taeng came across Mr. Pradit Sanguan in the forest. He told officers that he was searching for banana blossom and was told to go home as he wasn’t allowed in the forest.
Sometime later Mr. Sanguan was observed walking back into the forest with a gun and sling bag. This time he claimed he was hunting wild animals for food. Forestry staff then inspected his bag and found a lighter and “coconut fluff” that is used to start fires.
The accused man has denied the charge, saying that he had not been starting fires and only had the lighter and coconut fluff to light cigarettes.
At the moment he’s been charged causing damage to a national forest and breaching the coronavirus curfew order as he was caught outside after 10 p.m.
Police are investigating further and are likely to lay additional charges.
Photo: Nation.tv
