A Hungarian diver was summoned to the police station in Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand yesterday for allegedly touching a pipefish. Police say he was formerly charged with touching protected marine life once earlier than in 2020.
In a video entitled “Scuba diving within the paradise, Koh Phangan” on the YouTube channel “Paradise Films by Attila Ott,” the diver is pictured touching a pipefish together with his hands in the waters of Koh Pha Ngan, stories Matichon.
Touching or possessing ornamental fish without permission is a criminal offence in Thailand, according to the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Apichai Ekwanakul.
Yesterday, the Director of the Surat Thani Marine Resources Conservation Centre, Chonthichan Phoptaptim, travelled to Koh Pha Ngan Police Station to file a grievance towards the foreigner, offering the clip as proof.
Police charged Attila Ott of Hungarian nationality with, “catching or possessing decorative fish (Genus: Trachyrhamphus) with out permission,” in violation of Section forty five and Section one hundred of the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act (1992) and summoned him to the station to acknowledge the cost.
On September 1, 2020, Ott was charged with touching or possessing marine life in an environmentally protected area in Koh Pha Ngan. He was prosecuted by the police and deported from the kingdom for his crime.
However, the Hungarian filed an attraction with Surat Thani Immigration asking to return again to Thailand to take care of his elderly relative residing on the island. He was allowed back to Koh Pha Ngan.
Yesterday, Ott informed the police that the clip in query was taken a really very lengthy time in the past. Police instructed him to convey proof and witnesses to the station to back up his claim. Police didn’t say what type of punishment the diver was taking a look at if discovered responsible of the cost.
Apichai said…
“The DMCR would like to thank all relevant authorities including the Office of Marine Coastal Resources four, Koh Pha Ngan Police and Immigration Police for collaborating and working quickly to deliver offenders to justice.
“Most importantly, I wish to thank all of the individuals who have been maintaining a tally of the marine and coastal sources to protect them from being destroyed.
“Anyone who sees this type of behaviour once more, please don’t delay in informing officers on the hotline 1362, open 24 hours per day, so that we will take action in a well timed method.
Scientifically proven , please follow the department’s laws: Don’t contact, only look with your eyes. Don’t take anything back besides images and reminiscences. Help the ecosystem beneath the sea in Thailand to stay sustainable eternally.”
In August final 12 months, a Dutchman was arrested for parrotfishing in Phuket, southern Thailand..