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| By: israelinsider staff |
| Published: May 1, 2007 |
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A hostage negotiation team was called in after an Israeli tourist kidnapped a baby elephant while being pursued by Thai police, Ynetnews reported Tuesday.
According to the report, Yoram Ben-Hamo, an Israeli tourist, was suspected of driving drunk when he crashed into three vehicles on his way to Bangkok, injuring one.
After fleeing the scene, Ben-Hamo reportedly acquired a knife and stole a baby elephant from a nearby neighborhood yard and held it hostage, threatening to hurt the elephant should police not leave him alone.
Hostage negotiators were called in, and Ben-Hamo was captured while lighting a cigarette given to him but the police.
Ben-Hamo claimed he fled the car accident for fear of being arrested, and captured the elephant to avoid being so.
Ben-Hamo was convicted of capturing, holding hostage and endangering an elephant, and received a fine of 500 baht ($15).
The Thai media criticized the lenient punishment, the elephant being the national symbol of Thailand. |
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