German Arrested For Forest Encroachment

[sriracha john]

German arrested for forest encroachment

Police disprove man's land ownership claims

A German national has been arrested for forest encroachment and illegal land development in Hua Hin district.

A team of police and local officials were tipped off about the encroachment in a village in tambon Khao Hin Lek Fai in Hua Hin. The area in question is located in a gorge. When the authorities arrived at the site, they found Rutger Zabler, 46, was supervising the construction and digging by five to six workers. Police said the German refused to answer their questions and used a lengthy chain to fence off the area in a bid to stop them from entering it. The man scuffled with police for a while before being led away to Hua Hin police station. Zabler protested his innocence and showed police four land title deeds, claiming he owned 56 rai of land, including plots in mountainous areas. However, an examination by police disproved his claim, showing that he only had 30 rai. Police found that some of the title deeds were actually applications for permission to rent land from the provincial forest office and that he was not granted any permission to use the land by forestry officials. Police charged him with forest encroachment and illegal construction.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/23Mar2008_news07.php

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Along with this ongoing thread...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=175453&st=

Briton Arrested For Encroaching On Public Land

it seems like it's becoming more of an issue.....

[LaoPo]

SJ:

1. I thought that the Hua Hin case was already published and running elsewhere....?

2. That topic is closed...

LaoPo

[realmadrid25]

what a scumbag

[sriracha john]

SJ:

1. I thought that the Hua Hin case was already published and running elsewhere....?

2. That topic is closed...

LaoPo

Nothing on the forum on searches for "Rutger Zabler"

The other referenced thread on the Briton with similar charges is closed.

[taxexile]

A team of police and local officials were tipped off

how convenient.

Zabler protested his innocence and showed police four land title deeds, claiming he owned 56 rai of land, including plots in mountainous areas. However, an examination by police disproved his claim, showing that he only had 30 rai. Police found that some of the title deeds were actually applications for permission to rent land from the provincial forest office and that he was not granted any permission to use the land

again , another excellent example of obfuscation that leaves the true details of this story well hidden and open to any number of interpretations by the reader.

well done bangkok post.

did he own the land or not ?

if he did , how could he have , because it is impossible for a foreigner to get his name on land ownership papers.

if he is leasing / renting the land then he is entitled to build on it.

if the land has been rented from the forest authorities , then there must be some inherent land usage rights , otherwise why would anyone rent that land.

if he has built on land that he has no entitlement to build on , then it sounds like he has been misled , (by a lawyer , seller , partner ?? ) it is certainly not a hanging offence.

[sriracha john]

German arrested for forest encroachment

Police disprove man's land ownership claims

A German national has been arrested for forest encroachment and illegal land development in Hua Hin district.

====================================================================

Along with this ongoing thread...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=175453&st=

Briton Arrested For Encroaching On Public Land

it seems like it's becoming more of an issue.....

but, of course.... they are part of the latest CRACKDOWN....

Anongwan cracks down on land encroachment

Anongwan Thepsuthin, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, will on Monday, hold talks with the Forestry Department, the National Park, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to discuss the problem of land encroachment across the country. Anongwan is said to want exact details on how much land each department is in charge of and may ask for any land that is not being used by these departments back to the care of her ministry. She warned that severe punishments will be dealt to those known to have encroached on government-owned

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=126692

[sriracha john]

More CRACKDOWN references as the pool widens...

Chalerm orders a crackdown on encroachers of state land

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on Monday ordered a nationwide crackdown on encroachers of state land and vowed to bring culprits to justice even though some might be seen as close to him.

Chalerm said he expected every provincial governor to start the crackdown within seven days.

He said he expected to recover about 100,000 rai from encroachers.

- The Nation (today)

[Galong]

And the last several times I was in Phang Nga Bay (a national park) I saw illegal land clearing (including mountain tops which is illegal supposedly), BIG fires, illegal permanent structures being build on islands belonging to the park, etc, etc. I also had to endure those extremely annoying aquatic chainsaws (a.k.a. jet skis)... so much for ecotourism that the TAT keeps harping on and on about.

Land ownership seems to be a gray area at best. I guess it all comes down to who is going to tell on whom.

[PadThaiGuy]

What? A farang goes out to a National Park and build a bunch of houses? Unlikely.

The real story is probably somthing like this.

Someone bamboosled this guy on a land/development deal.

The Forestry Dept., Land Dept Officials, Lawyers all probably in on it.

[Briggsy]

How about this.

Forestry official and land registry officials conspire to rent land to foreigners and then quickly arrest them for illegal encroachment. They are subsequently jailed and deported or just deported either way having to pay a fine or bribe as well.

Everyone gets paid at both ends and the foreigners is out of the picture.

And a great photo op for the law-enforcers.

Good scam!

[sriracha john]

True... and they could even decide to tack on a daily National Park entrance fee for every day they were on the property. :D

Still... being the proud German that he is...

OP:

The man scuffled with police for a while before being led away to Hua Hin police station.

he didn't go quietly.... :D

Edited March 25, 2008 by sriracha john

[tijnebijn]

not strange they don't want foreigners to own land ,

or everything thats looks like it !

Sure they have good reasons now that WE all are same same like these

greedy individuals , who for whatever reason did not do ther homework or thought

money just can buy anything .

And then also resisting his arrest .....oh my

[howtoescape]

what a scumbag

Insightful. Its good to know that TV has someone of your intellect as judge and jury.

[jackspratt]

what a scumbag

Insightful. Its good to know that TV has someone of your intellect as judge and jury.

How many of 25's posts have you read?

It is a gross exaggeration by you to suggest he has an intellect

[howtoescape]

Sounds like the beginning of the Thais equivilant of the Spanish land grab.

Thing is it not as if there isnt enough information that farangs cant own land in Thailand so you would think people very crazy and extremely stupid to buy these villas in the first place.

If foreigners stopped buying these houses/villas they would soon change the law to make it possible as lets face it Thailand is a banana republic that needs and relies on this investment.

[PadThaiGuy]

What about these Lawyers and businesses setting up companies to allow Farang to own land/houses?

A Lawyer should know the law........................ are they misleading Farang investors?