Shinawatras Lose Golf Club Ownership, but Lease Option Open

[webfact]

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

[scorecard]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

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

 

 

QUOTE: "The outcome could set precedents for managing land donations and religious assets across the nation, reported Bangkok Post."

 

This is not a new matter, it's been mentioned in news services /' been reported on / discussed by highly respected senior legal eagles many time before. 

 

Previously it's been reported that the existing Thai law (existing for many decades) that temple land (no matter how the temple acquired the land) cannot be sold under any circumstances. 

 

Setting precedents is not an appropriate approach, the matter is specifically already covered by Thai law, as above: "existing Thai law (existing for many decades) that temple land (no matter how the temple acquired the land) cannot be sold under any circumstances".

 

Also note that Sanoh Tienthong a very scaly / very corrupt previous politician and long-term buddy of thaksin was very involved in selling the land and in the development of the housing estate. This is a man who would see his mother if offered a half good price, And he had no respect for the law about anything. 

 

 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Setting precedents is not an appropriate approach, the matter is specifically already covered by Thai law, as above: "existing Thai law (existing for many decades) that temple land (no matter how the temple acquired the land) cannot be sold under any circumstances".

The land was sold illegally under past and still current Thai law.

The Alpine group should be brought to court and fined heavily for purchasing, and developing the golf course and building the housing.

Everything should be flattened and the grounds made available for the temple who could turn it into a park for public use.

The stinking rich and corrupt people who had a hand in this should be prosecuted.

[ChrisY1]

Don't worry folks...this is just PR spin. Thaksin won't lose anything!

[khunjeff]

This case has been going on for decades now. The sale of the land was long ago determined to have been illegal, and at least one person went to prison years ago for the corruption involved in the project - and only now the titles are being revoked?

[Justanotherone]

thaksin should not have owned the land, but the temple sold it, knowingly... but now gets it back??? no logic either

[MikeandDow]

7 minutes ago, Justanotherone said:

thaksin should not have owned the land, but the temple sold it, knowingly... but now gets it back??? no logic either

If you read the post correctly, you will see that the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation sold the land NOT the temple

[PETERTHEEATER]

The key link in this saga is the district Land Office. Someone in there authorised amendment to the Chanotes granting new ownership in the certain knowledge that it was 'temple land.

[MikeandDow]

53 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

The key link in this saga is the district Land Office. Someone in there authorised amendment to the Chanotes granting new ownership in the certain knowledge that it was 'temple land.

And that is called coruption 

[stubuzz]

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

The key link in this saga is the district Land Office. Someone in there authorised amendment to the Chanotes granting new ownership in the certain knowledge that it was 'temple land.

Probably and oversight by an office junior.