DSI Investigates Land Dispute in Buriram

Picture courtesy of Komchadluek.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has requested official records from four state agencies in its ongoing investigation into the controversial land ownership claims surrounding the Khao Kradong area in Buriram Province. The case, which may involve state land, has raised concerns about possible criminal offences, including money laundering.

The probe stems from a formal complaint by Kusumalavadee Sirikomut, a former senatorial candidate, who questioned the legality of land claims made by certain individuals and groups in the area. The DSI’s investigation team, assigned to case no. 97/2568, convened on 4 August, to assess the matter and coordinate with relevant agencies, including the Department of Lands, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), and Buriram provincial authorities.

Preliminary findings reveal that on 27 May 1955, the SRT registered its possession of approximately 5,083 rai of land in the area under the Sor Kor 1 (S.K.1) system, based on its occupation of the land prior to the enforcement of the Land Code on 1 December 1954. The basis for the SRT’s claim lies in a 1921 Royal Decree designating the area for railway construction, a decree which effectively restricted public land use.

The land was declared under S.K.1 no. 1180, with local officials acknowledging the SRT’s long-standing use and occupation of the area. However, investigators have now discovered that other individuals in the same region have also filed S.K.1 declarations, potentially overlapping with the SRT’s claim.

Under Section 5 of the Land Code Act, S.K.1 declarations do not automatically grant land ownership rights. Moreover, Section 10 prohibits the issuance of land title deeds for public domain or reserved land, including areas protected under earlier legislation such as the 1935 Act on the Preservation of Vacant Public Lands.

Accordingly, any land plots within the boundaries claimed by the SRT cannot legally be titled unless claimants can prove they held superior possession rights predating the 1921 Royal Decree.

The investigation further revealed that in June 1987, the SRT attempted to convert its S.K.1 documents into full land title deeds. Thirteen parcels of land covering 477 rai were successfully titled, while the remainder remain under dispute, pending resolution at the Buriram Land Office.

Official land office records now bear notices warning that any land rights documents within the disputed area may be subject to cancellation, amendment or revocation. Any parties proceeding with land transactions must be informed of this potential risk and record their acknowledgement accordingly.

One notable discovery in the case is a single legal entity currently holding over 400 rai of land within the SRT’s claimed area. If it is proven that this entity or others involved have unlawfully obtained land documents or engaged in illegal possession or exploitation of the land, particularly if the land is classified as a natural resource, they could face charges under anti-money laundering laws. This includes commercial misuse of natural resources and may also implicate state officials across various departments.

The DSI has affirmed that further legal action will be taken in accordance with its mandate, as it works to unravel what could be a significant case involving land fraud and misuse of public property.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khomchadluek 2025-08-06