Graft group: former officials encroached on Chiang Rai land

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation on Sunday

Ban Talae Mok Resort, worth Bt200 million, was flattened as it was one of many homes and hotels that encroached on Thap Lan National Park.

CHIANG RAI: -- The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) yesterday accused a group of former officials of encroaching on 2,000 rai of mountainous land in Chiang Rai's Muang district and using illegally issued title deeds as collateral to obtain a Bt100-million bank loan that later went bad.

PACC chief Pol Colonel Dusadee Arayawut said that according to the results of a probe into the alleged encroachment on forestland in the Doi Pa Sang area, the issuance of land-title deeds in 1990 allegedly allowed politicians to possess 19 plots covering 494 rai.

The politicians include former Si Sa Ket MP Sawat Seubsaiphrom, former Surin MP Pulsawat Mulsatsathorn, former PM's Office officials Banyai Sukkasem and Pairoj Fongdawirat, and former official Col Sakhon Kitwiriya.

The plots were later allegedly transferred to Sakhon and Banyai, who allegedly used the deeds to borrow Bt100 million in 1991. The loan became non-performing and was transferred to Thai Asset Management Corporation in 2008.

The PACC would see that the six officials involved in the issuing of illegal deeds for the 19 plots were punished, Dusadee said, while the bank would sue the officials accused of using the bogus deeds to borrow money and allowing the loan to lapse into an NPL.

The accused claimed to have bought the plots, which they said were used as orchards, from the original landlords, who they identified as elderly residents the area. Dusadee said the probe found that the 19 plots were mountainous land on which rubber trees and corn were being grown. He said all but one of the cited "original landlords" were dead. The surviving "landlord" told the PACC that he didn't have land there and suggested that his name might have been used without his knowledge by his son-in-law, a property agent.

Dusadee said he was also acting on a request by Tambon Mae Or village headman Khammoon Testi to probe a private company that cleared 175 rai of forestland to grow rubber trees. Later Dusadee presided over the opening of an anti-corruption centre (hotline 1206) at Chiang Mai's Central Airport Plaza and launched a Facebook page to encourage youths to watch out for corruption in the public sector.

In related news, on Friday night some 3,000 officials started to demolish illegal buildings at nine resorts accused of encroaching on Thab Lan National Park - seven in Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Kheow district and two in Prachin Buri's Na Dee. Among the sites slated for demolition in the latter district was the 200-room Ban Talae Mok Resort. Officials were obstructed by road-blocks and attempted tyre-burnings by 130 resort owners and local employees.

The resort owners complained that officials were razing buildings without waiting for an Administrative Court ruling, slated for August 14, on their July 22 appeal for a temporary injunction. Damrong Pidech, chief of the Department of National Parks, insisted on enforcing the demolition order.

Meanwhile, at 10am yesterday in Pak Thor in Ratchaburi, officials destroyed 79 rai of a pineapple plantation and demolished homes of alleged forestland encroachers in Tambon Yang Hak.

-- The Nation 2012-07-29

I applaud the Thai authorities for demolishing these illegally built structures in national park areas. Frankly I am surprised that they have been demolished. I hope this might send a message out to owners across Thailand of similar resorts

I applaud the Thai authorities for demolishing these illegally built structures in national park areas. Frankly I am surprised that they have been demolished. I hope this might send a message out to owners across Thailand of similar resorts

Right on. If a few government officials ended up in jail, and lost their fortunes, a strong message would be sent for sure. But we'll see what really happens...good first step though!

But which 'ex officials' is it that are having their properties pulled down before due completion of the legal process?? Only a short while ago PTP stated that although 40% of protected Mangrove swamps in Thailand had been illegally encroached on, the people concerned would have chanote deeds for their land legally endorsed!!! Protected land is protected land. In Krabi one of the largest most exclusive hotels in the town area is the M.......Hotel. The owner is the ex Governor who was a Thaksinite through and through. The land used for the hotel was protected Mangrove swamp, and he just took it when he was Governor. I bet anything that the current Government do not order the pulling down of that resort!

This is all still a very much a feudal system here. I am all for letting the courts make decisions based on due legal process, and if they decide the land was illegally or criminally obtained then tough, pull down and reclaim BUT IMPORTANTLY make sure the land is returned to clean forest.!, However to just move in and destroy resorts is all a bit like the middle ages in England. A new King on the throne so take away all the land from the Barons that did not assist you and give it to those that did!

why didn't they just confiscate the properties and all the belongings and turn them into public schools?

I guess because even schools would be considered encroachment on a national park. Would the population there even sustain a school? No idea, sorry.

why didn't they confiscate all the properties and belongings and turn them into public schools?

The proof in the pudding will be to see how many of them serve any hard time in prison for FRAUD

The interesing fact is they are all Thaskinites..

How many of them are able to payoff the Judges time will tell.

The appropiate message would be to send them to prison...but I seriously doubt the Courts have bigh enough Testicles & Moral Fiber to do that.

I applaud the Thai authorities for demolishing these illegally built structures in national park areas. Frankly I am surprised that they have been demolished. I hope this might send a message out to owners across Thailand of similar resorts

Right on. If a few government officials ended up in jail, and lost their fortunes, a strong message would be sent for sure. But we'll see what really happens...good first step though!

Seems this administration is really moving along at the fastrack speed!!! Well done! Not like the govt of the time of this land grab (Chuan Leekpai)....

When you work for the government, there is a different set of rules.... Yes you can catch them in the act, but not much will happen.....

Kerry

These are wealthy government ensconced people that think they are above the law and take what they want. They don't realize that they leave a money trail and all bad deeds are easy to uncover with the internet and grass roots groups that want accountability. Their once proud family names will be forged in SHAME and contempt,and for history to record forever!! just a matter of time.

I applaud the Thai authorities for demolishing these illegally built structures in national park areas. Frankly I am surprised that they have been demolished. I hope this might send a message out to owners across Thailand of similar resorts

Right on. If a few government officials ended up in jail, and lost their fortunes, a strong message would be sent for sure. But we'll see what really happens...good first step though!

Seems this administration is really moving along at the fastrack speed!!! Well done! Not like the govt of the time of this land grab (Chuan Leekpai)....

Or the government of Thaksin, the Army, Samak, Somchai or Abhisit just to keep it in perspective with NO double standards.