The Phuket authorities arrested Russian entrepreneur Alexander Krasilov for using coral rocks in the decoration of the area near a restaurant.
On Friday, June 15, the police arrested 46-year-old Russian entrepreneur Alexander Krasilov for stealing more than 50 pieces of coral rocks from the sea in Thailand. Krasilov was detained at the “Sibiryak” restaurant in Rawai thanks to the joint efforts of the tourist police and local law enforcement agencies.
According to the official report of the tourist police, Krasilov used the stolen coral rocks for decorative purposes to adorn the area near the restaurant. However, it is not reported whether Alexander Krasilov is the owner or manager of the said establishment, nor the exact place and time when the man extracted the corals from the sea.
Krasilov was taken to the Chalong police station and charged with violating Section 7 of the 2019 Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, which prohibits the possession of protected wildlife items. Coral reefs are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem and are protected by law.
The operation to apprehend Krasilov involved Police Lieutenant Colonel Channarong Rodtongdi from the Investigative Division of the 3rd SWAT Battalion of TAT, fisheries expert Nares Chuphung, as well as representatives from the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Center and officers from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression.
It is worth noting that in June of last year, two Chinese tourists were accused of touching starfish and climbing on corals during a diving excursion to Racha Yai Island, located south of Phuket. This incident underscores the importance of treating the fragile marine environment with care and adhering to conservation laws.
