Animal Lovers Celebrate as Justice Prevails in High-Profile Dog Cruelty Case
PUBLISHED: 13 Jan 2025 at 16:38
The Court of Appeal has significantly increased the prison sentence of a police officer found guilty of killing Tia Morchor, the beloved unofficial mascot of Chiang Mai University. The ruling, issued by Appeal Court Region 5, has sentenced the officer to 16 months in prison without the possibility of suspension and mandated a compensation payment of 100,000 baht to the university, acknowledging its role as the canine’s caretaker.
Tia Morchor was a mixed-breed dog who resided on campus and participated in various university events, including a traditional hike up Doi Suthep for incoming students.
Reports indicated that the officer, who remains unnamed, was suspended from duty after Tia was reported missing in May 2020. The dog was found dead three days later, having suffered a fractured skull, and was discovered by the roadside.
Surveillance footage showed the officer taking Tia Morchor on his motorcycle. He later claimed that the dog had jumped off the bike and sustained fatal injuries from the fall. Initially, the Criminal Court sentenced him to six months in prison for animal cruelty, dismissing additional charges, including that of theft.
In a landmark move, the Watchdog Thailand Foundation appealed the leniency of the sentence, arguing that Tia Morchor was not a stray but rather a university property. The Appeal Court concurred, enhancing the sentence and emphasizing the dog’s significance to the community.
The ruling has been met with widespread approval among animal rights advocates and the university community. The hashtag “#justiceserved” trended following the decision, as supporters flooded social media with messages of gratitude towards the judicial system for delivering justice for Tia Morchor.
Ubolphan Nonthaburi, a supporter on social media, expressed thanks to everyone who contributed to the case, stating, “Thank you everyone who was part of this call for justice for Pi Tia. And above all, thank you to the judges for showing that justice still prevails.”
