DSI probes B14bn forest encroachment at Phuket beach

[Lite Beer]

DSI probes B14bn forest encroachment at Phuket beach
Suthicha Sirirat

DSI deputy director-general Pong-In Intarakhao inspected the site of the alleged beach encroachment in person. Photo: Suthicha Sirirat

PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has launched a probe into a claim for a Chanote title deed to be issued for 200 rai of Phuket beachfront property with an estimated value of B14 billion.

The site in question is a two-kilometre stretch of sand at from Layan Beach to Laypang Beach, in Cherng Talay, which is deemed to be in Sirinart National Park.

DSI deputy director-general Pong-In Intarakhao and Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin, director of the DSI’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and Environment Crime, led an inspection of the site yesterday (June 26).

Joining the leading crime-busters were Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Songkhaosuttirak and Jirasak Chukwamdee, who is the director of the Protected Areas regional office under the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

The investigation was launched after a complaint filed by the DNP alleged that the land was within the national park boundary, said Col Pong-In.

“We suspect that the entire area – which the owner has applied to be upgraded to Chanote status – is trying to be claimed by use of ‘flying SorKor 1’,” he said.

A ‘flying SorKor 1’ attempts to use a SorKor 1 land-use document to claim ownership of an entirely different plot elsewhere.

Col Pong-In said that aerial photographs and other documents related to the area showed that the land under investigation was once sea.

“Aerial pictures and other documents prove that in the past this area was covered by sea, and later dirt and debris were deposited to form the land,” he said.

“The area has since been fenced off and marked ‘Private property. Do not enter’ for land that is clearly public property.”

Investigators will file their reports directly to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong with a request to investigate the alleged encroachment, he added.

“The person attempting to claim ownership of this land and any government officials involved in this claim will be investigated” Col Pong vowed.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/dsi-probes-b14bn-forest-encroachment-at-phuket-beach-52961.php

-- Phuket News 2015-06-27

[Lite Beer]

Encroached properties in Sirinart national park in Phuket to face legal execution to evict‏

PHUKET: -- Several luxury properties that illegitimately trespassed the beautiful Sirinart national park in Phuket for over a decade will soon be reclaimed and demolished as the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is seeking cooperation from the Legal Execution Department to execute the Supreme Court's order to seize the property.

One of the many luxury properties to be seized is a billion baht resort located in the park area illegitimately.

Movement by Sirinart national park officials came after the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the park in another case over encroachment by property developers.

The park had filed legal case against a resort owner who built over a billion baht luxury property on Haad Hin Kruay beach 11 years ago.

Now the legal battle has ended with three courts ruled in favour of the park, said Kittiphat Tharaphibarn, chief of the Sirinart national park in Phuket.

“Yes it is definitely good news as only recently the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the decision of both the Civil Court and the Court of Appeals in which Sai Sawan of the Rayan Holdings Co. Ltd. was found guilty of all the charges. During the trial it was found that the title deeds were issued illegally. At the moment, I am in the process of notifying the Legal Execution Department to undertake to have the property dismantled. The final decision rests with them.

The park chief revealed further that lands in and around the Sirinart National park is valued at current market prices anywhere between 30 – 70 million Baht per rai for seaside plots.

That is why the properties have attracted great interest from investors, he said.

As of the present, a number of illegal title deeds have issued for lands that actually belong to the national park.

He said his department has filed a number of complaints with the Department of Lands regarding the suspicious issuance of several title deeds involving 15 parties.

This indicates an increase in disputed plots from 16 originally to 70 at present. This encompasses a total 800 rai of disputed property but sadly, no progress has been made.

He admitted he was very concerned over the matter.

“Solving the problem is not a one man job and will need the cooperation of many departments. You must remember that the extremes that these people go to get the deeds are very complicated and takes time for us to track down. Furthermore, you must also keep in mind that as of the present, the title holders are now the 3rd generation and not the original title holders which complicate the issue even more,” he added

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/encroached-properties-in-sirinart-national-park-in-phuket-to-face-legal-execution-to-evict‏

-- Thai PBS 2015-06-27

[mango66]

Yes it is very complicated to take the land back from very influental persons ,

maybee it will take until TS is back,

and they will have back their title deeds too !!

[JetsetBkk]

you must also keep in mind that as of the present, the title holders are now the 3rd generation

Eh? So the "My grand-dad said it was his" defence has some weight?

typo.

Edited June 27, 2015 by JetsetBkk