Two sentenced to 10 years and 10M fine for burning Ramkhamhaeng Park

MGR Online•Society•9d ago

Reader Briefing

Sukhothai Provincial Court sentenced two individuals to 10 years in prison and a fine of nearly 10 million baht for burning forest in Ramkhamhaeng National Park.

•Two individuals were arrested for starting forest fires in Ramkhamhaeng National Park on April 10, 2026.
•The Sukhothai Provincial Court sentenced both defendants to 10 years in prison without suspension.
•The court ordered a civil fine and natural resource damage payment totaling 9,971,976 baht.
•The arrests were made through photographic evidence and coordination between the Protected Area Regional Office 14 (Tak) and community leaders.

Overview

•On April 10, 2026, officials observed two individuals in orange shirts running down a mountain after smoke appeared in the Sok Phra Ruang Long Phra Khan forest area.
•Protected Area Regional Office 14 (Tak), Ramkhamhaeng National Park officials, and community leader Pradit Ukham tracked the suspects using photographs to their residences.
•The two defendants confessed to starting the forest fires after being presented with evidence.
•On August 4, 2026, the Sukhothai Provincial Court read the verdict for case number Black A589/2026.
•The court reduced the maximum sentence of 20 years to 10 years because the defendants confessed.
•The court ordered a payment for natural resource damages amounting to 9,971,976 baht.
•Panatkon Phothibandit warned the public that forest burning laws carry severe penalties, including long imprisonment and high fines.

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Key Quotes

Panatkon Phothibandit

"The forest is not a place to light fires for personal benefit."

ผืนป่าไม่ใช่ที่จุดไฟเผาเพื่อผลประโยชน์ส่วนตน

Key Entities

Place

Ramkhamhaeng National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติรามคำแหง)ℹ️

The location where the forest burning occurred.

Sok Phra Ruang Long Phra Khan Forest(ป่าโซกพระร่วงลองพระขรรค์)

The specific area within Ramkhamhaeng National Park that was burned.

Organization

Protected Area Regional Office 14 (Tak)(สำนักบริหารพื้นที่อนุรักษ์ที่ 14 ตาก)

The agency that coordinated the investigation and arrest of the forest burners.

Sukhothai Provincial Court(ศาลจังหวัดสุโขทัย)

The court that sentenced the two defendants to prison and a fine.

Person

Panatkon Phothibandit(พนัชกร โพธิบัณฑิต)

Director of Protected Area Regional Office 14 who directed the operation and issued warnings against forest burning.

Wichai Thaowaiwong(วิชัย ท้าวใจวงศ์)

Chief of Ramkhamhaeng National Park who led the fire suppression efforts.

Sorawat Nuphinit(สรวัช หนูพินิตร์)

Chief of Khao Luang Forest Fire Control Station who led the fire suppression efforts.

Pradit Ukham(ประดิษฐ์ อู่ขำ)

Village Headman of Moo 8 Ban Chetuphon who helped identify and track the perpetrators.

Law

National Park Act 2019(พ.ร.บ.อุทยานแห่งชาติ พ.ศ.2562)

The law under section 19 (1) used to convict the defendants.

Forest Act 1941(พ.ร.บ.ป่าไม้ พ.ศ.2484)

The law under section 54 used to convict the defendants.