Spanish YouTuber Frank Cuesta Fined for Illegal Possession of Protected Animals in Thailand
Spanish YouTuber and naturalist Frank Cuesta was sentenced on Wednesday to pay a fine of 30,000 baht (approximately 800 euros) for the illegal possession of protected animals, as ruled by the Provincial Court of Kanchanaburi in western Thailand. There was no prison sentence imposed, just the fine for possession of protected animals, as confirmed by Cuesta's lawyer, Metapon Suwancharern. According to the Thai attorney, they have not yet made a decision regarding an appeal against this ruling and it is likely that they will forgo that option.
Cuesta reported to the court around 9 AM (0200 GMT), accompanied by his lawyer, and spent around three hours in the court's custody, as per information from EFE. While an official from the Kanchanaburi Court informed EFE that the ruling had been delivered, further details about the verdict were not disclosed. In his defense, Cuesta strongly rejected, in statements to EFE after leaving the courtroom, that the ruling was read at all, insisting that his presence at the court was merely a routine procedure to sign some documents.
"In a month I will know what happens," Cuesta stated, expressing that he was not worried about the outcome. The naturalist, who has resided in Thailand for several years and was on provisional release, was arrested on February 27 for allegedly possessing illegally protected wild animals at his sanctuary named Santuario Libertad. This 16-hectare property, which Cuesta acquired years ago, serves as a shelter for various animals.
The police conducted a raid on the sanctuary following a tip-off received via email, claiming that a foreigner was unlawfully holding protected wildlife without the necessary permits, according to the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation. During their inspection of the property, officers discovered a total of ten protected wild animals—nine small-clawed otters and one Burmese python—neither of which were supported by any official documentation verifying their legal possession.
Under Thai law, offenses pertaining to the illegal possession of wildlife can result in penalties that range from monetary fines to several years of imprisonment, or both, depending on the specific circumstances surrounding the case.
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