A photo of Tia Morchor, the unofficial mascot dog of Chiang Mai University. Photo courtesy of the tiamorchor Facebook account
A Thai police officer has been sentenced to additional prison time for the fatal beating of Tia Morchor, the unofficial mascot dog of Chiang Mai University.
The Appeal Court Region 5 on Monday handed down a total of 16 months in prison to the unnamed officer, as reported by the Bangkok Post. This decision follows a six-month sentence imposed in 2023 by the Criminal Court for animal cruelty.
Tia Morchor, a dog beloved by the university community, lived on the Chiang Mai University campus and participated in various school activities. Originally roaming freely near the Jed Yod area, about five kilometers from the university, Tia’s owners eventually allowed him to stay on campus, according to Khaosod.
In May 2020, Tia was reported missing and was later discovered dead with a fractured skull beside a roadside. Security camera footage captured the dog being taken by a police officer on a motorbike. The officer claimed that Tia jumped from the vehicle, leading to his death.
Following the initial sentencing, the Watchdog Thailand Foundation called for harsher penalties, highlighting that Tia was not a stray but belonged to the university. Agreeing with these concerns, the Appeal Court extended the officer’s sentence to a total of 16 months.
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