Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Authorities have uncovered multiple building and environmental violations at several luxury villas on Koh Samui, including a property formerly owned by football icon David Beckham, during a major operation targeting illegal hillside developments.

 

On 24 July, a joint task force carried out raids in the Khao Laem Yai area of Surat Thani province, as part of the “Samui Model” initiative aimed at clamping down on unlawful construction on protected state land.

 

The sweep revealed infractions under a raft of laws, including the Hotel Act, Building Control Act and the Environmental Quality Promotion and Conservation Act. Authorities are also probing potential breaches of the Foreign Business Act, specifically nominee ownership schemes, alongside allegations of tax evasion and the employment of undocumented workers.

 

The multi-agency operation included officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Forest Protection Unit, Immigration Police and local authorities from Koh Samui.

 

At the first site in Ban Tai, Maenam sub-district, officials inspected six hillside villas owned by Thai, Chinese and Russian nationals. The villas, built on steep gradients of between 35% and 50% at elevations ranging from 50 to 140 metres above sea level, were found to exceed the legal six-metre height limit and deviate from approved building plans.

 

The second site involved two further villas, one of which was previously owned by David Beckham and is now in the hands of a French national. Both properties had been erected on slopes steeper than 50%, breaching regulations which stipulate that 75% of such terrain must remain undeveloped. These villas also surpassed the legal height restrictions.

 

Colonel Dusit Kasornkaew, who led the operation, confirmed that investigators have recorded the violations and are collecting evidence for prosecution. The matter will be handed over to the Surat Thani Provincial Police for further legal proceedings.

 

Should any government officials be found to have facilitated or ignored the infractions, the case will be escalated to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation and potential disciplinary action.

 

This high-profile raid marks a significant escalation in Thailand’s campaign to curb illegal property developments in environmentally fragile zones, particularly those catering to affluent foreign investors.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-07-26

 

 

 

Here's a wild suggestion.

How about you ban all development on samui from now onwards until you assess most of the property around the whole island. Then when that's done validate any further construction before it's allowed to proceed.

But we know that won't happen as the people selling all the land and who own companies tied to construction will say it's costing them money. , despite them already having plenty of money from the mess created around the island.

Just got back from a walk and what did I see further up the hills, where it's very steep..... diggers clearing more trees, it's not that hard to spot the developments up high, how about just stop them before they are built?



 

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Authorities have uncovered multiple building and environmental violations at several luxury villas on Koh Samui, including a property formerly owned by football icon David Beckham, during a major operation targeting illegal hillside developments.

 

On 24 July, a joint task force carried out raids in the Khao Laem Yai area of Surat Thani province, as part of the “Samui Model” initiative aimed at clamping down on unlawful construction on protected state land.

 

The sweep revealed infractions under a raft of laws, including the Hotel Act, Building Control Act and the Environmental Quality Promotion and Conservation Act. Authorities are also probing potential breaches of the Foreign Business Act, specifically nominee ownership schemes, alongside allegations of tax evasion and the employment of undocumented workers.

 

The multi-agency operation included officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Forest Protection Unit, Immigration Police and local authorities from Koh Samui.

 

At the first site in Ban Tai, Maenam sub-district, officials inspected six hillside villas owned by Thai, Chinese and Russian nationals. The villas, built on steep gradients of between 35% and 50% at elevations ranging from 50 to 140 metres above sea level, were found to exceed the legal six-metre height limit and deviate from approved building plans.

 

The second site involved two further villas, one of which was previously owned by David Beckham and is now in the hands of a French national. Both properties had been erected on slopes steeper than 50%, breaching regulations which stipulate that 75% of such terrain must remain undeveloped. These villas also surpassed the legal height restrictions.

 

Colonel Dusit Kasornkaew, who led the operation, confirmed that investigators have recorded the violations and are collecting evidence for prosecution. The matter will be handed over to the Surat Thani Provincial Police for further legal proceedings.

 

Should any government officials be found to have facilitated or ignored the infractions, the case will be escalated to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation and potential disciplinary action.

 

This high-profile raid marks a significant escalation in Thailand’s campaign to curb illegal property developments in environmentally fragile zones, particularly those catering to affluent foreign investors.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-07-26

 

 

 

We all know that a few envelopes will “fix” things and no villas will ever be demolished! 
there are 20 villas above me that were all deemed illegal, guess what??? Lights are still on at night ! Means 1 thing only! Money changed hands to make the problem go away! It was all over the news too ! Unusually rich officials drove away satisfied, Thai style….

Just spotted a bunch of houses built in obvious contravention of building policies, huh?

 

Eagle eyed scouts in action.

Who signed off on the occupation certificates?

Still employed I guess, wonder how much the public servants made along the way as the construction happened, who are the builders?

 

When I first visited Koh Samui there were virtually no roads or bars, and accomodation was a hammock on the beach costing 10 baht per night.

29 minutes ago, ronster said:

Here's a wild suggestion.

How about you ban all development on samui from now onwards until you assess most of the property around the whole island. Then when that's done validate any further construction before it's allowed to proceed.

Common sense never prevails..

That's the process... Convince foreigners to buy into a fantasy (owning property on a Thai island), build it to spec without permits (permissions, etc ), and then reclam the property in the name of the Kingdom. 

The problem is also with the greedy Thai realtors.  They tell the buyer that they can build on land which is forbidden and tell them not to worry, they know who to pay off at the Land Office. I have caught 5 of them in the act and intervened informing the buyer of the lies and consequences.  The Realtors now know not to come around these parts. Because if I see them again, I will take their photo and call the police.  They have been warned.

 

And then they’re the greedy developers.  Filing for a permit to build 2 homes and subdividing the land into 6 units.  That have been shutdown facing a fine of 3M THB. Couldn’t happen a nicer group of swindlers.

 

I would get a bulldozer and tear them all down. Because very soon, the beautiful mountains of Koh Samui will look like a Cement Piling graveyard 

32 minutes ago, Babalooey said:

Because very soon, the beautiful mountains of Koh Samui will look like a Cement Piling graveyard

They already do , just look at banrak , bophut and chaweng noi . Utter mess everywhere and no trees to absorb water when rains come so floods and landslides become the norm .

Makes me laugh when I look at Facebook and see loads of properties for sale and it's all just computer images as nothing built and in a lot of cases never will be as money vanished like many before. Then the ones that say seaview and it's literally about 5-7km from the main road and you would need a set of binoculars to actually see the sea 😄

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

When I first visited Koh Samui there were virtually no roads or bars, and accomodation was a hammock on the beach costing 10 baht per night.

Have you ever been to Phuket?
It's many times worse there.

Gonna be some big brown envelopes flying about!

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

When I first visited Koh Samui there were virtually no roads or bars, and accomodation was a hammock on the beach costing 10 baht per night.

You must be 150 years old

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

When I first visited Koh Samui there were virtually no roads or bars, and accomodation was a hammock on the beach costing 10 baht per night.

 

Heretic alert!

1 hour ago, Cabradelmar said:

Convince foreigners to buy into a fantasy (owning property on a Thai island) ... and then reclam the property in the name of the Kingdom. 

Unfortunately for your (lack of) logic, no government has ever tried to convince foreigners to do that.   Developers may have done so but developers do not confiscate property "in the name of the Kingdom".

1 hour ago, Cabradelmar said:

That's the process... Convince foreigners to buy into a fantasy (owning property on a Thai island), build it to spec without permits (permissions, etc ), and then reclam the property in the name of the Kingdom. 

Nonsense.

1 hour ago, Babalooey said:

I have caught 5 of them in the act and intervened informing the buyer of the lies and consequences.  The Realtors now know not to come around these parts. Because if I see them again, I will take their photo and call the police.  They have been warned.

The developers must really be sh!tting their trousers with you around to answer to.

58 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Have you ever been to Phuket?
It's many times worse there.

Many times, many years ago. Too many people everywhere these days.

Should any government officials be found to have facilitated or ignored the infractions.💰🤣

 

They will get richer the more do you know who I am they are 🤔  

35 minutes ago, Reddavy said:

You must be 150 years old

83 actually. First went to Samui in the early 1960s.

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

When I first visited Koh Samui there were virtually no roads or bars, and accomodation was a hammock on the beach costing 10 baht per night.

And I Thought my accomodation was cheap it was The Matlang Resort ( A Wooden Hut ) right  on the Beach I Think it cost me 100 Baht a Night that was in '83 & I'm Not 150 Years Old either 555 !!....But There was NO A/C......555 !! Alas it's been Demolished Now !

4 hours ago, ronster said:

Here's a wild suggestion.

How about you ban all development on samui from now onwards until you assess most of the property around the whole island. Then when that's done validate any further construction before it's allowed to proceed.

But we know that won't happen as the people selling all the land and who own companies tied to construction will say it's costing them money. , despite them already having plenty of money from the mess created around the island.

 

Thank heavens there's a westerner here to tell them how to run their island. 

 

British or American? 

28 minutes ago, Packer said:

 

Thank heavens there's a westerner here to tell them how to run their island. 

 

British or American? 

Their own government and cib tell them how to run it but they think money can buy everything and everyone.

 

5 hours ago, Packer said:

 

Thank heavens there's a westerner here to tell them how to run their island. 

 

British or American? 

Either way, it was sensible common sense advice. The authorities don’t have to follow it or even read this forum. Doesn’t mean someone can’t express an opinion on what they think should/could be done.

10 hours ago, Babalooey said:

The problem is also with the greedy Thai realtors.  They tell the buyer that they can build on land which is forbidden and tell them not to worry, they know who to pay off at the Land Office. I have caught 5 of them in the act and intervened informing the buyer of the lies and consequences.  The Realtors now know not to come around these parts. Because if I see them again, I will take their photo and call the police.  They have been warned.

Seriously? Have you made your will?

11 hours ago, ryandb said:

Just got back from a walk and what did I see further up the hills, where it's very steep..... diggers clearing more trees, it's not that hard to spot the developments up high, how about just stop them before they are built?



 

Then there is no possibility of a shakedown or seizure of the asset....?

 

Developers bribe their way into developing then the government takes it away from the owners.  Thailand is a corrupt country to the core. Why anyone goes there and spend money is looney.

13 hours ago, zepplin said:

We all know that a few envelopes will “fix” things and no villas will ever be demolished! 
there are 20 villas above me that were all deemed illegal, guess what??? Lights are still on at night ! Means 1 thing only! Money changed hands to make the problem go away! It was all over the news too ! Unusually rich officials drove away satisfied, Thai style….

 

In farangland there are taxes and condo fees on Thailand there are corruption fees. All due monthly.

Troll post removed.

 

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