Forestry officials discovered three illegal logging sites on Koh Chang island yesterday. A suspect was arrested at one of the sites.

The sites, totalling about 10 rai, are in Ban Dan Kao village, Ban Klong Phrao village, and an area near Tantawan Resort in tambon Koh Chang Tai.

Damage to the environment caused by the logging was estimated at 300,000 baht, said Preecha Phujeeb, head of an illegal logging suppression unit in Trat.

The suspect was identified as Boonloi Sirimongkol, 30, from Trat's Muang district. He was arrested in Ban Klong Phrao where trees had been felled in an area of about three rai. The man said he had been hired to cut down trees since late last year.

Mr Preecha said illegal logging was rampant even though Koh Chang had been picked as a pilot area for suppression of encroachment on national park land.

Post On Apr 9, 2005