One of Thailand's wealthiest men has been sentenced to 16 months in jail after being convicted on three poaching charges.

Premchai Karnasuta is head of Italian-Thai Development, a Bangkok-based firm that helped build the capital's Suvarnabhumi airport and Skytrain rail link.  The 64-year old is free on bail while he appeals the conviction. 

Last year, wildlife rangers surrounded an illegal hunting campsite in a remote section of Thungyai Naresuan national park.  They found Premchai and two other men along with the carcasses of a recently killed black panther, a Kalij pheasant. and barking deer - all protected species in Thailand.  Authorities also recovered three rifles, 143 bullets, and other hunting tools.

The other two men were Premchai's cook and driver; they were given lighter sentences.  Prechai was convicted only for the pheasant and the weapons.

The case sparked a discussion about the impunity with which the very wealthy conduct their lives in Thailand. 

"Justice is meted out unequally," complained Steve Galster of wildlife organisation Freeland Foundation who hopes the appeals court "will stick with the decision" after his appeal.