Thai woman faces jail after friend takes her pet lion for a drive in open-top Bentley

Seated at the back of a white, open-top Bentley, a lion cub was spotted going on a joyride in the streets of Pattaya, Thailand, in January 2024. -SCREENGRAB FROM MADAMANNUDON/FACEBOOK

BANGKOK: A Thai owner of a pet lion cub could face jail after a viral video of her friend driving around Pattaya in a convertible Bentley, with the big cat wearing a chained collar sitting in the back seat, sparked accusations of animal cruelty and endangering public safety.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said Sawangjit Kosoongnern was legally allowed to keep the lion in Ratchaburi province, west of Bangkok.