Samui mahout charged over inattentiveness causing death and injuries

A mahout responsible for the death of a Scottish tourist killed by an elephant has been charged over inattentiveness which led to death and injuries, according to the police.

Bo Put Provincial Police Station Director Pol Col Thewet Pluemsut has revealed the investigation progress of an elephant attack accident which caused the death of a 36-year-old Scottish tourist, and injuries to his daughter. Police have concluded from initial investigations, that the incident was caused from the mahout’s inattentiveness.

The responsible mahout, a Myanmar national working in Thailand, told the police he was servicing the tourists on a warm day, during which both tourists continuously fed the animal with bananas, but noticed that sometimes they withdrew their offer when the elephant put his trunk up to receive food.

He said the elephant attacked when he was helping both tourists with photography. He believes the flash from the camera caused the elephant to attack the tourists and the mahout.

The mahout is now charged over his inattentiveness which results in death and injuries, and will face further prosecution procedures at Koh Samui Provincial Court later today.

On this matter, the police station director has said images from the tourist’s camera show the moment when the mahout neglected his duty on the elephant’s neck to take photos for both tourists.

NNT

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