Pressure continued to mount on YouTube prankster and wannabe celebrity Nate Bartling yesterday as more than 120,000 people signed a petition to have him arrested.
A police report has already been filed with Huay Kwang police over animal cruelty allegations after the US man’s videos of him organizing a fight between a cat and a scorpion and tying a cat to a hot air balloon.
In the scorpion video the cat was stung on the mouth.
An online lawyer has also said the case is one of animal cruelty and has advised Nate to get his bail money ready.
Now police are looking into his background and checking on his working status and whether he is paying taxes. He is known to be living in Thailand.
Three million children and youths saw his latest stunts. Some people are concerned that impressionable young people will copy him.
Thailand has strict animal cruelty laws and he could be jailed or heavily fined.
The website Change.org organized the petition.
Meanwhile the American, a former Mormon missionary, who can speak Thai, posted another video yesterday to explain matters.
While lots of people came out in support of Nate, many others commenting online said they think it is just another attempt to get attention and the only way to stop his antics are to have him prosecuted.
Those who feel he should be nailed include online lawyer Rannarong Kaewpetch who often comments on such issues on his “Thanai Khuu Jai” Facebook page.
He said that the case clearly falls into the category of animal cruelty.
He said that he suspects that Nate would have earned around 30,000 baht from the 3 million clicks on his videos and that he should get that ready for his bail that would be around 40,000 baht, said Rannarong.
On a personal note, I hope he gets what’s coming to him and is at least banned from posting his videos.
(Source:Daily News)