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 as soon as 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 with his arms in the waters of Koh Pha Ngan, stories Matichon.
Touching or possessing ornamental fish without permission is a criminal offence in Thailand, based on 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 criticism against the foreigner, offering the clip as evidence.
Police charged Attila Ott of Hungarian nationality with, “catching or possessing ornamental fish (Genus: Trachyrhamphus) without permission,” in violation of Section 45 and Section 100 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 space in Koh Pha Ngan. He was prosecuted by the police and deported from the dominion for his crime.
However, the Hungarian filed an attraction with Surat Thani Immigration asking to come again to Thailand to care for his aged relative living on the island. He was allowed again to Koh Pha Ngan.
Untold , Ott told the police that the clip in question was taken a really long time ago. Police instructed him to bring proof and witnesses to the station to again up his claim. Police didn’t say what sort of punishment the diver was looking at if found guilty of the cost.
Apichai said…
“The DMCR would like to thank all related authorities including the Office of Marine Coastal Resources four, Koh Pha Ngan Police and Immigration Police for collaborating and dealing rapidly to bring offenders to justice.
“Most importantly, I wish to thank all the individuals who have been maintaining a tally of the marine and coastal resources to guard them from being destroyed.
“Anyone who sees this kind of behaviour once more, please don’t delay in informing officials on the hotline 1362, open 24 hours per day, in order that we can take motion in a well timed method.
“Divers, please comply with the department’s regulations: Don’t contact, only look together with your eyes. Don’t take something again besides pictures and recollections. Help the ecosystem underneath the sea in Thailand to stay sustainable forever.”
In August final yr, a Dutchman was arrested for parrotfishing in Phuket, southern Thailand..