Shinawatras Lose Golf Club Ownership, but Lease Option Open

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File photo for reference courtesy: Wikepedia

 

In a significant development, the Department of Lands in Thailand has been directed to revoke the ownership titles for the Alpine Golf and Sports Club and adjoining residential properties in Pathum Thani province.

 

This decision, catalysed by Chamnanwit Terat, a deputy permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, hinges on the discovery that the land was originally donated for religious purposes, to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn, a temple located in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

 

The land in question, 924 rai in size, was donated by a philanthropist, Noem Chamnanchartsakda, to the temple in 1971.

 

Upon her passing, the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation, appointed as the executor of her estate, sold the land to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, an action now deemed unlawful as it went against the original donation terms which prohibited such sales.

 

Following the revocation of current ownership, Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn will regain control of the land. This opens up the possibility of leasing the land back to current occupants, allowing the golf club and residences to continue operations under new terms.

Moreover, there is a proposition for the Department of Lands to financially compensate the current occupants for the loss of ownership, potentially easing the transition.

 

Central to this contentious affair are the Shinawatras, a powerful political family in Thailand. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who assumed office on the 18th of August last year, was initially a shareholder, holding about 22.41 million shares in the Alpine Golf and Sports Club.

 

However, records indicate that she transferred her shares to her mother, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, as of early September.

 

As detailed in a shareholder report from September 2024, Khunying Potjaman, along with other family members, maintain substantial stakes in the club, with Khunying Potjaman owning 29.88 million shares, while Panthongtae Shinawatra and Pinthongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong each hold 22.42 million and 22.41 million shares respectively.

 

This revocation not only disrupts the financial holds of a prominent family but also offers a broader reflection on land ownership and religious donation ethics in Thailand.

 

As the situation unfolds, attention now turns to how the Shinawatra family and other stakeholders will navigate these legal and ethical complexities, and whether they will pursue retaining operational control through leasing agreements. The outcome could set precedents for managing land donations and religious assets across the nation, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-01-20

 

 

[Pouatchee]

that's gotta hurt their pride, a bit