Thai Woman Faces Charges After Pet Lion's Joyride in Bentley Goes Viral

The incident has sparked legal action and raised questions about the regulation of exotic pet ownership in Thailand.

A video of a lion cub riding in the back of a convertible Bentley in Thailand has gone viral, leading to the arrest of its owner, Sawangjit Kosoongnern.
Sawangjit Kosoongnern, the Thai woman who owns the lion, is facing charges of possessing a controlled wild animal without permission, which carries a penalty of a year's imprisonment and a fine of up to 100,000 baht ($2800; £2200).
The lion was being driven around by a Sri Lankan man, a friend of the owner, who has since left the country and thus will not face charges.
The man who sold the lion to Sawangjit will also face charges of moving an animal without permission.
Despite the incident, it is not illegal to own a lion in Thailand, but it needs to be officially registered. There are currently 224 lions in Thailand that are legally owned.