Public cynical about justice for ‘influential people’ – Survey

Although the investigation into construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta’s alleged illegal hunting is ongoing, the public says they have little confidence that he will ever be punished if found guilty.

Nearly two-thirds, or 64.2 per cent, of people recently surveyed believe the case, where Premchai and three others are accused of poaching and possessing wildlife in a Kanchanaburi wildlife park, will not see the perpetrators punished, because the suspects are from an “influential group”.

The survey was recently conducted by the Bangkok University Research Centre among 1,202 respondents nationwide, who were asked for their opinions on justice procedures in Thailand.

The poll also found that 53.3 per cent of respondents thought the case against Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya – who is wanted over a 2012 hit-and-run incident that left a Bangkok traffic policeman dead – would not see Vorayuth punished.

Fifty per cent of respondents also believed the case against Dhammakaya Temple ex-abbot and founder Phra Dhammachayo would also be unable to bring the controversial monk to justice.

And 49 per cent believed no culprit would ever be punished over the suspicious death of teenage army cadet Pakapong Tanyakan at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in Nakhon Nayok.

Asked which group of people would likely get away with a crime, 69.2 per cent of the respondents ranked “the group of influential figures”. Also named were politicians (63.6 per cent); “hi-so” wealthy people (61.5 per cent); civil servants, police and military people (45.2 per cent); and monks (21.1 per cent).

Over a third of respondents (37.6 per cent) believed the justice system contained loopholes that allowed wrongdoers to evade justice. Another 28.6 per cent thought the practice of “double standards” or discrimination was in play, while 23.6 per cent said they thought available punishments were too lenient compared to the crimes.

Just 5.7 per cent believed that legal procedures were carried out justly and transparently, while 4.5 per cent said scapegoats had been used to take the blame for many crimes.

Asked if they felt confident in justice procedures, 71.7 per cent said their confidence was low while the rest said confidence remained high.

SOURCES: The Nation, Bangkok University survey, Phuket Gazette