Six Wang Nam Kheow Resort Owners Identified, Face Charges

[webfact]

WANG NAM KHEOW SCANDAL

Six resort owners identified, face charges

By JANJIRA PONGRAI

KASEM CHANATHINART

THE NATION

Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Rapi Pongbuppakit yesterday identified the alleged owners of six resort/vacation homes in his province's forest reserve, all of whom will be summoned soon to face charges relating to encroachment.

They are Rasitapak Tanasriwanichchai, Asira Jessadanikorn, Somsak Kongsapsakun, Prapat Herbkhuntod, Chaleaw Daengkratoke, Montri Chalayon and Kanoknart Rangsitianchai. Montri and Kanoknart are co-owners of Krua Im Suk Resort.

All the resorts and vacation homes are located in the forest reserve in Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Kheow district.

"Investigators will summon them soon," Rapi said in his capacity as chief investigator in the case, "After they receive the summons, they must turn themselves in within 14 days or face arrest warrants".

Administrative officials and police have worked together in solving the forest-encroachment cases.

He added the team was in the process of gathering evidence relating to 16 other resorts found in the forest reserve.

Meanwhile, Muang Lampang District chief Mongkhon Suksai yesterday disclosed that the Office of Public-Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) had already asked the Lands Department to revoke Nor Sor 3 land-right documents and land-title deeds of a company owned by a local politician because they covered 2,400 rai of permanent forestland.

Damrong Pidej, acting director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, yesterday vowed to crack down on forest encroachment.

"I will focus on the southern national parks where many locals have encroached on forest for rubber plantations," he said.

Thap Lan National Park chief Tewin Meesap yesterday said he would soon report to Damrong his unit's action against forest encroachment.

"Three cases have already been closed," he said.

Many resorts were found to have operated in the Thap Lan National Park in Prachin Buri.

Tewin firmly dismissed an allegation that officials had received a Bt1-million bribe from resort owners who had flouted the law.

"Apart from those three cases, we are acting on 115 new cases," he said.

He said relevant officials were now preparing to pull down 38 resorts or vacation homes in the national park.

"The announcement about order to dismantle has already been posted," he said.

Damrong said that after the posting, the dismantling would take place within 45 days if the owners did not come forward and lodge an appeal.

"The owners of more than 30 properties have appealed," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-08

[mca]

Looks like one of the accused has an interest in the building where the Nation has offices!

Data of Lessees

As of 30 September 2009, the Nation Tower Project had 64 lessees according to which the first ten lessees

of the Project occupy 46.60 % of the total space for leasing.

1. Nation Multimedia Group Public Limited Company

Major Unit holders As of March 23, 2010

5 Miss Kanoknart Rangsitianchai 300,000 0.15

Edited September 7, 2011 by mca

[geriatrickid]

According to the description Krua Im Suk Resort;

- Does not accept credit cards, cash only

- Consisting of spacious residences built with Thai stylings surrounded by beautiful mountains and natural beauty.

[moe666]

Cash Discount

[ginjag]

Cash Discount

So charges will be made against unlawful occupation of the said national park, and the department SEEM to be onto the alleged trespassers. BUT it didn't say anything about the Land officers who new and gave permission wrongly, and what charges will be made against them. In many cases if the NOD was not given then many would not have been developed, There are so many VIPs involved I would think a fraction will be charged.

[plumeria]

Considering the state of the planet I think it's fantastic that destroying the environment offenses are getting this kind of attention.

Would we have such severe flooding if the forests had not been so violently raped?

Or is all this because the Nation is a yellow shirt corp and not in power?

[lounger]

I suppose it doesn't matter if this is all politically motivated. If each governing party straighten the paths a little bit it has to be good for the country.

The more people knock corruption and amoral behaviour the quicker Thailand will get its respect back.

[Foggy Bottom]

This crackdown started before the last general election, so it cannot be pointed at a reason of whoever is in power.

[webfact]

Officials involved in encroachment: Forest Dept probe

By The Nation

An ongoing investigation has shown that at least three officials, including a senior police officer, might have been involved in forestreserve encroachment in Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Kheow district.

"We are going to inform the Department of Special Investigation [DSI] of this," Royal Forest Department inspectorgeneral Witoon Chalayonnawin said yesterday.

He heads an adhoc panel tasked with investigating encroachment of forest reserves in Nakhon Ratchasima and adjacent areas.

His panel is probing 59 land plots inside the forest reserve on which buildings have gone up.

Witoon said there was solid evidence implicating a senior police officer, an administrative official and a forest official.

He said his panel has received satellite images from the WorldView1 satellite to assist with the investigation.

"The images are very clear and detailed," Witoon said.

Damrong Pidej, the new chief of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, vowed to pursue legal action against forest encroachers.

He said resorts and vacation homes going up in the forest reserve would be dismantled.

"The court has already approved the dismantling of some resorts and vacation homes," he said, adding that he planned to inspect these properties next week.

Damrong said he would crack down on illegal logging of black wood species.

"I have already received a list of influential figures implicated in this illegal business," he said. He planned to confront them with the help of police officers early next week.

Damrong added that some forest officials had been involved in illegal logging.

"I have heard that sometimes the trees in forest reserves are cut down in front of the offices of national parks," he said, before announcing a plan to reshuffle forest officials.

"I will sign transfer orders very soon. The chiefs of national parks where illegal logging has taken place will be transferred," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-09

[Soutpeel]

Did i miss something, must be a first.....no mention of foreigners being blamed.....