Land Ownership On Samui Being Checked

[Rooo]

http://www.samuicommunity.com/index.php?op...48&catid=18

This was sent to me from Community publications worth a read too.

[percy2]

Crispin John Grandvil Paton-Smith name made me sit up. A hard name to forget.

Other wise knowns as "Captain Caveman" in the diving fraternity.

[Rooo]

Bangkok Post today…25/07/2006 KOH SAMUI

Ex-prosecutor surrenders to face land title bribe charges

POST REPORTERS

A former prosecutor wanted in connection with land encroachment on Koh Samui yesterday surrendered to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Pratheep Muangkaew, a former prosecutor turned land developer, was charged by the DSI for bribing land officials into issuing land documents for his property.

However, he insisted yesterday that he had acquired the land legally and without the use of bribery.

Mr Pratheep bailed himself out of the Criminal Court with a 350,000 baht title deed after the charges were laid.

"I have sold several plots on Koh Samui over the years but had no clue that the foreigners who bought them from me had a bad history. As a developer, I admit that there are problems with title deeds on Koh Samui but I did not know which process was problematic," he said.

He bought land through lawyers and never knew any members of the Bandidos motorcycle gang.

"It was not possible to know all your clients and who they really were," he said. The DSI in a raid last Tuesday arrested three foreigners and a Thai, who was a former land official on Koh Samui, and charged them with extortion and malfeasance.

Mr Pratheep was one of the seven suspects implicated in the illegal issuance of land documents on the resort island.

The DSI yesterday also brought Kim Lindergaard Neilsen, a 36-year-old Dane charged in the case, to the Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, the Land Department has transferred three land officials for their alleged involvement in the illegal issuance of land documents to developers of the Peak property project, a reliable source said yesterday.

The three were ordered transferred by Land Department chief Pirapol Tritotsavit. The suspects, who were not named, were moved to inactive posts to facilitate the inquiry.

One was transferred on July 18 and the other two, who were C-5 and C-6 level officials, on July 21.

State action on The Peak project on Koh Samui, which had allegedly acquired land illegally on Khao Dang and Khao Duang Nok mountain, followed after advertisements for the sale of 514 rai of land on a website and in a property trading guide were placed by Samui Property Solutions, a foreign firm.

The land, being sold for up to eight million baht a rai, for a total of 4.1 billion baht, set alarm bells ringing and a crackdown was ordered to put an end to land encroachment by tourist resorts.

Surat Thani Ssenator Pravit Nilwatcharamanee said the government should take the land scandal seriously and bring those behind the encroachments and money-laundering to justice.

[Charma]

Firstly, how ironic that the guy used a land title as bail!

Secondly, although Mr Pratheep may well be innocent of these charges (should be given the same benefit of the doubt as the falangs implicated), it seems strange that he should start defending himself by again citing the "history" of the people who he sold the land to. If the origin of the land title is the issue in question, it is not remotely relevant who you sold the land to. What matters is where the land came from!

[sbk]

Bangkok Post today…25/07/2006 KOH SAMUI

Meanwhile, the Land Department has transferred three land officials for their alleged involvement in the illegal issuance of land documents to developers of the Peak property project, a reliable source said yesterday.

The three were ordered transferred by Land Department chief Pirapol Tritotsavit. The suspects, who were not named, were moved to inactive posts to facilitate the inquiry.

One was transferred on July 18 and the other two, who were C-5 and C-6 level officials, on July 21.

Absolutely shocking! I never saw it coming. Inactive posts indeed

[Rooo]

Bkk Post 01/08/CRIME

Danish police investigating Samui biker

Danish police yesterday asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to help track the money trail of a Danish biker charged with land encroachment on Koh Samui. They want to investigate the assets of Kim Lingegaard Neilsen and find the source of funds invested in Thailand, since he is unemployed in his home country.

''The Danish Revenue Department has found that Kim was unemployed and registered as a low-income person in order to receive assistance from the government,'' said Detective Commander Troels Jorgensen. ''But on checking his assets in Thailand, we find Kim had more income than he declared to the Revenue Department.''

Mr Neilsen, a member of the Bandidos motorcycle club, and three others were arrested on July 18 and charged with encroaching on public land and threatening land officials to obtain a title deed.

''Denmark will examine Kim's tax fraud history. The Bandidos club was set up legally in Denmark, but some members were found operating illegal businesses,'' Mr Jorgensen said.

DSI deputy director-general Pol Col Tavee Sodsong said seven more suspects, Thais and foreigners, who ''owned'' forest land on the island would also be arrested

01/08/2007

[Rooo]

KOH SAMUI / PEAK DEVELOPMENT

Land officials moved and will face inquiry

SUPAPHONG CHAOLAN

Surat Thani _ Two officials who examined land for the Peak development project on Koh Samui were transferred to inactive posts yesterday, following allegations that they were involved in illegal land acquisition in forest areas. Land surveyor Saksiwa Srinuan and land official Suko Petprom were transferred to inactive posts for a disciplinary investigation after their land checks led to the illegal ownership of forest-covered land on Duang Nok mountain.

Surat Thani land official Jareon Janpan said a sor kor 1 land document held by project operator Suthep Wangdan had no legal status.

Article continued ......................................................................

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/03Aug2006_news14.php

[stevehaigh]

Crispin John Grandvil Paton-Smith name made me sit up. A hard name to forget.

Other wise knowns as "Captain Caveman" in the diving fraternity.

Crispin John Grandvil Paton-Smith. Silly party?

[sriracha john]

A trio of articles in the Bangkok Post today with rather unsettling news of those involved with property scandals, among other nefarious activities:

PARADISE LOST

MOTORCYCLE GANG 'REMAINS A THREAT'

Ex-biker: Bandidos everywhere despite arrests

The Bandidos, reputedly the world's second largest outlaw motorcycle gang, remain a serious threat to foreigners on Koh Samui even after three members were arrested recently by police, a former gang member said. The middle-aged Australian, who asked not to be named, told the Bangkok Post that many more members of the gang are still at large on the island. The gang has allegedly been involved in a litany of crime including extortion, prostitution, money laundering and drug trafficking. The former biker said the illicit drug trade remained the gang's main source of income in Thailand. Its members import expensive drugs, such as cocaine and ecstasy, for sale to foreigners on Samui and smuggle out marijuana and methamphetamine.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09Aug2006_news16.php

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

PARADISE LOST

CRIMINALS TODAY HAVE NO HEART

Somkiat says his uncle may have been a crook, but he cared about people

The death of Sombat Phusiriwat, one of Koh Samui's most influential figures, has left a power vacuum which is being filled by local and overseas gangsters, said his nephew Somkiat Sripaew.

Sombat, also known as Kamnan Dum, was allegedly linked with southern hitmen and was involved with crime in Surat Thani. Sombat died two years ago, at 58, from natural causes. Mr Somkiat, 49, a car dealer on Samui, said the behaviour of gangsters on the island has changed a lot from when his uncle took a leading role. "People from other parts of Thailand and foreigners are attempting to seek money and power from crime on Samui," he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09Aug2006_news15.php

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

PARADISE LOST

SAMUI'S MAFIA KINGPIN

Police believe British man is the brains behind criminal gangs on resort island

Special Branch police are gathering evidence against an Indian-born British property developer they believe launders drug money and pulls the strings behind the Bandidos motorcycle gang on Koh Samui, said a police source. However, the suspect's name has been withheld as police seek more evidence before asking a court to issue an arrest warrant. The highly placed National Police Office source said the man is married to a Thai and runs at least 10 land development firms on the resort island. "The British man is regarded as the top mafioso on Koh Samui, ranking above the Bandidos gangsters. He has links with transnational cartels dealing in cocaine and heroin. The man launders drug money by investing it in property businesses on Samui.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/09Aug2006_news14.php

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

[taxexile]

Kim Lingegaard Neilsen

is this guy (75% covered in tatoos) the one who drives around in a black range rover and keeps rotweillers?

[Beachedwhale]

I know there are often good reason for having name suppression but wouldn't it be more appropriate in this case to name the suspect as all other "Indian-born British property developer s .... married to a Thai and runs at least 10 land development firms" now become suspects as well?

[Rooo]

Do you want te names?LMAO I want to live.Never seems to amaze when you get all these ( founded allegations) & they just seem to evaporate.When you read between the lines, this sort of behaviour is condoned as long as the people are connected.

[Beachedwhale]

Sorry Roo if my sarcasm went unnoticed as I forgot to put one of those smiley icons on the posting. I agree that we should not be naming names, I just thought the whole article was sensationalism and cannot believe that the police would let out such information when they have not even arrested anyone yet. As they say ... the truth does not always make the best stories...

[sriracha john]

I was rather astounded by the "trio" nature of the articles, especially the "PARADISE LOST" moniker in big, bold, capital letters applied to the heading of each one.

As the Bangkok Post is held as the go-to newspaper in Thailand by many people around the world, it's readership, I'm sure, is equally astounded by the goings-on that it describes the island having.

Extremely hard news for most people to swallow, IMHO.

Edited August 9, 2006 by sriracha john

[Rooo]

This is amazing,keystone cops revisited.

[Rooo]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=78067&st=0

Very interesting reading in the real estate forum.

[Rooo]

LAND DEAL TURMOIL

Revocations, seizures unlikely in probe, at least at first

Officials investigating alleged illegal occupation of prime land plots on Koh Samui's mountains have warned people not to expect dramatic results, at least initially. The Lands and Forestry departments are investigating alleged forest-land incursions by the country's top land developer and a local businessman.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/11Aug2006_news04.php

[Rooo]

Peak owner insists Samui project clean

Threatens legal action if land title revoked

PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

The Peak will take legal action if the rights to land acquired by the company on Koh Samui are revoked, the owner of the multi-million baht development project, Boon Vanasin, said yesterday. Dr Boon, chairman of Rajthanee Group whose subsidiary Rajthanee Realty co-develops the project with Gledhill International, denied The Peak held interests in a plot of land on Khao Duang Nok, which authorities have found was acquired illegally.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/11Aug2006_news05.php

[Rooo]

Software will be written to end land abuse

SUPAPHONG CHAOLAEN NUCHAREE RAKRUN

A computer programme will be written to check all sor kor 1 land documents already issued on Koh Samui, and those awaiting distribution, for any sign of abuse. The move follows a visit by a state panel headed by Forestry Department deputy chief Tani Wiriyarattanaporn, which looked into land encroachment on the island.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Aug2006_news07.php

[sriracha john]

UPDATE... and poof! their fraudulent ownership disappears

THE PEAK PROPERTY PROJECT

Land plot papers to be revoked

The Land Department will revoke land papers issued for six plots of land on the tourist island of Koh Samui, a senior land official said yesterday. Department deputy chief Vichai Praisa-ngob said an investigation had concluded the Nor Sor 3 Kor title deeds for the land had been illegally issued. False Sor Kor 1 land occupation papers were used to apply for Nor Sor 3 Kor papers. The disputed plots are part of the 451-rai Peak property development project in tambon Bo Phud. The inquiry into the land acquisition for the property development was initiated after the developer advertised the land for sale at prices up to eight million baht per rai.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/05Apr2007_news12.php

[ClaudeFeller]

So what will be Land Office do with this 451 rai of Land? Who will be the new owner?

I wonder...

Cheers, Claude

[leemond]

Maybe this will answer your question? Look familiar....no..... take a good look!

http://www.himmapanbeachsamui.com/indexnoflash.html

[LaoPo]

Maybe this will answer your question? Look familiar....no..... take a good look!

http://www.himmapanbeachsamui.com/indexnoflash.html

from this website:

"Ownership and Rental Guarantee

Ownership: Ownership of all suites, hotel rooms and villas is by way of a perpetual 30 year renewing lease.

Leaseback: The leaseback arrangement provides 6% net income plus up to 28 days free usage each year dependent on time of stay.

Maintenance, repairs and renewals: For those participating in the leaseback arrangement Himmapan Beach Samui pays all maintenance, repairs and renewal costs including white goods and soft furnishings.

Rental Pool : Owners may elect to participate in the rental pool or receive a fixed leaseback over 2,3,4,or 5 years."

Interesting:

" Building A Brand

Himmapan Beach Samui will be developed as a strong, branded resort which will not only ensure healthy returns on your investment but will leverage those investments against the growth in the brand. For example two bed room apartments in the established Paradise island resort can command prices in excess of $3,000,000. "

Another one bites the dust....

LaoPo

Edited April 6, 2007 by LaoPo

[ClaudeFeller]

LaoPo,

thats what I am just reading too...

"Ownership of all suites, hotel rooms and villas is by way of a perpetual 30 year renewing lease."

How can they write such a nonsense?

But who will be the owner of this land if the landoffice will revoke the landpapers?

Cheers, Claude

[ClaudeFeller]

Now from the same site, "market report":

http://www.himmapanbeachsamui.com/images/p...onairesclub.pdf

"Beautiful Koh Samui is rapidly developing into an up-market destination, with trendy restaurants, shops and bars, and even a 6* hotel – making it one of Asia’s investment hot-spots. Unaffected by the 2004 tsunami, several areas have been declared ‘Green Zones’ by the Government, tightening planning consents, and approval for the 2nd airport and completion of the new marina in 2006/7 will drive property values up."

So we are living in a paradise, we just didnt notice it yet.

And the

"Focus Business Report: Koh Samui

An overview of the Samui market, confirming figures of an 20% per year cap growth. "

is from June 2005!

Claude

Edited April 6, 2007 by ClaudeFeller

[churchill]

Now from the same site, "market report":

http://www.himmapanbeachsamui.com/images/p...onairesclub.pdf

"Beautiful Koh Samui is rapidly developing into an up-market destination, with trendy restaurants, shops and bars, and even a 6* hotel – making it one of Asia’s investment hot-spots. Unaffected by the 2004 tsunami, several areas have been declared ‘Green Zones’ by the Government, tightening planning consents, and approval for the 2nd airport and completion of the new marina in 2006/7 will drive property values up."

So we are living in a paradise, we just didnt notice it yet.

And the

"Focus Business Report: Koh Samui

An overview of the Samui market, confirming figures of an 20% per year cap growth. "

is from June 2005!

Claude

I didn't reaslise that the 2nd airport had been approved ! and where is the new marina ??

[womble]

Now from the same site, "market report":

http://www.himmapanbeachsamui.com/images/p...onairesclub.pdf

"Beautiful Koh Samui is rapidly developing into an up-market destination, with trendy restaurants, shops and bars, and even a 6* hotel – making it one of Asia’s investment hot-spots. Unaffected by the 2004 tsunami, several areas have been declared ‘Green Zones’ by the Government, tightening planning consents, and approval for the 2nd airport and completion of the new marina in 2006/7 will drive property values up."

So we are living in a paradise, we just didnt notice it yet.

And the

"Focus Business Report: Koh Samui

An overview of the Samui market, confirming figures of an 20% per year cap growth. "

is from June 2005!

Claude

I didn't reaslise that the 2nd airport had been approved ! and where is the new marina ??

Neigher did I.......

Complete <deleted>.......

[cclub75]

"Ownership of all suites, hotel rooms and villas is by way of a perpetual 30 year renewing lease."

How can they write such a nonsense?

It's tasty indeed. Marketing ? Or put it in another way : using the stupidity of some buyers.

And unfortunatly, it works.

As for the second (international of course) airport, or the coming space port, and along with the next Disney Amusement Park (they have decided it... yesterday)... it reminds me something in Bangkok.

A developper is announcing a new -large- projects on Phaonyotin, almost opposite Major Cineplex... 3 towers. And in their glossy paper documentation, they speak a lot about the future BTS station, that will be just 10 meters away !

The idea is to continue the line from Mot Chit.

When ? How ? Mai ru. But it will come "sure".

[sbk]

Now from the same site, "market report":

http://www.himmapanbeachsamui.com/images/p...onairesclub.pdf

"Beautiful Koh Samui is rapidly developing into an up-market destination, with trendy restaurants, shops and bars, and even a 6* hotel – making it one of Asia’s investment hot-spots. Unaffected by the 2004 tsunami, several areas have been declared ‘Green Zones’ by the Government, tightening planning consents, and approval for the 2nd airport and completion of the new marina in 2006/7 will drive property values up."

So we are living in a paradise, we just didnt notice it yet.

And the

"Focus Business Report: Koh Samui

An overview of the Samui market, confirming figures of an 20% per year cap growth. "

is from June 2005!

Claude

I didn't reaslise that the 2nd airport had been approved ! and where is the new marina ??

Neigher did I.......

Complete <deleted>.......

two year old report on a website that is promoting as current news from the sounds of it.

[mafaso]

two year old report on a website that is promoting as current news from the sounds of it.

It reads November 2005 at the top of the report.