Phuket official wanted in illegal excavation raid

[webfact]

Phuket official wanted in illegal excavation raid
The Phuket News


Navy personnel provided security during the raid on the illegal excavation site.

PHUKET: -- A leading local official is wanted for operating an illegal excavation business in Mai Khao, at the northern end of Phuket.

Officials bolstered by Royal Thai Navy security personnel raided the site, in Moo 4, immediately north of Phuket International Airport, today (July 29).

At the scene, officers found earthworks deemed illegal underway at the 9,000-square-metre site, said Lt Sompop Kamkana, who led the naval security force on the raid.

“We found eight drivers with eight trucks. One person got away in a car,” he reported.

“We contacted Sarawut Seesakukam, president of the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor), after one of the drivers told us that Mr Sarawut was their boss.

“Mr Sarawut accepted that he owns the business, so I asked him to come here, but he said that he was unable to as he was in another province,” he said.

Accompanying Lt Sompop and his troops were officials from the Land Department, the Department Natural Resources and Environment and the Forestry Office, all of which claim the work conducted at the site is illegal according to the laws and regulations each is tasked with enforcing.

Also joining the raid were police and officials from the Damrongtham Center (provincial ombudsman’s office).

Lt Sompop alleged that Mr Sarawut’s business was operating under an expired license, conducting the incorrect form of excavation at the site, and excavating beyond the limits permitted at the site.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-official-wanted-in-illegal-excavation-raid-53413.php

-- Phuket News 2015-07-30

[Valentine]

Why not put out an arrest warrant. No doubt his lackey already advised him to lay low. This business of making a request to appear for questioning is a blatant double standard which should be eradicated.

Edited July 30, 2015 by Valentine

[LivinginKata]

Why not put out an arrest warrant. No doubt his lackey already advised him to lay low. This business of making a request to appear for questioning is a blatant double standard which should be eradicated.

Don't be silly. He is sortingout this small understanding - and greasing the important palms.

[masquerade]

Gee, General/PM everyone are so scared of you and your enforcers, not. They keep on keeping on. Why? because you are a toothless tiger who rants and raves a lot, but in essence does sweet FA in penalising these people. Heavy handed treatment is reserved for the poor, the young and vulnerable.

[tajtom]

Simply read the plans wrong................................ :) nothing some holiday cash wont fix and warm cup of Gaffe

[Mises]

This was posted on the Phuket News site and is spot-on

Richard Vickers | 30 July 2015 - 02:56:30

He just doesn't care about any rules...which is the standard with all these local officials. In fact, they are worse than most of the common people that don't follow rules, because they know the rules, but disregard them for their own personal gain.

Now, join me as we watch this case unfold...er, wait...it won't unfold...it is done...and nothing will happen, just like all the other local officials caught doing wrong. In fact, good chance that this guy got busted because some other official was pissed because Khun Sarawut didn't cut him in on the graft. Complete joke.

- See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-official-wanted-in-illegal-excavation-raid-53413.php#sthash.3Wn9T02K.dpuf

[Lupatria]

Another greedy untouchable super hiso VIP official caught red handed and no one has the guts to punish him. One can hardly call this news in LOS.

[mikiea]

and he said , i do this for all the little people ....................

[thaibeachlovers]

Gee, General/PM everyone are so scared of you and your enforcers, not. They keep on keeping on. Why? because you are a toothless tiger who rants and raves a lot, but in essence does sweet FA in penalising these people. Heavy handed treatment is reserved for the poor, the young and vulnerable.

You put too much on the PM. Short of actually going there himself, he has to allow the usual suspects to do the enforcing, and they aren't going to change unless they start getting arrested themselves for graft.

[mango66]

Why not put out an arrest warrant. No doubt his lackey already advised him to lay low. This business of making a request to appear for questioning is a blatant double standard which should be eradicated.

He is an high official of the region !

So he got informed already officiall 2 days in advance, that this ride will take place !

So he had enough time to travell to another province !

So how much bribe was paid for the tip ??

by officals or by RTP ??

[gemguy]

Hmmmm...so the guy is doing some illegal land development while not operating under the rules and regulations and operating without permits etc.

If that is the case, why then is he being singled out where as all over this country every minute of the day there is land development going on that is also not totally legal while also not following all the rules and regulations and laws and by laws.

I do not understand why this particular case is in the spot light and or any more significant than all the many other illegal or quasi legal land development affairs on the go all over Thailand.

Just curious.

Cheers

[cookee68]

Nothing new for Thailand

[hgma]

a new one......

Police: Get your A^$*^%( here on the double!!

Official, Sorry gents but I am in another province

Police: Oh....Uh/// OK then whenever you have time, thank you,

Edited July 31, 2015 by hgma

[Somtamnication]

Wish they would investigate that huge land grab behind between Honda and Songkla uni. Super fast how they are eating hills and trees.

That land belongs to one of the "untouchables" locally, so no hope there.

[TPI]

Bah! Humbug! And what changes??

[spidermike007]

a new one......

Police: Get your A^$*^%( here on the double!!

Official, Sorry gents but I am in another province

Police: Oh....Uh/// OK then whenever you have time, thank you,

Yes sir, take your time getting back here, so we can have a very friendly conversation behind closed doors. Don't worry, we will work it out. We have been making a big show lately. But, as you know our follow up is weak, so do not fret, nor interrupt your business in the other province you are also pillaging, and wreaking destruction upon.

[steelepulse]

I'm guessing this work is illegal due to it being government/national park land and not his own. I've never heard of illegal earthworks on private property.

[Valentine]

I thought altering the topography was illegal yet there are numerous instances on the island where hills have disappeared only to be put in ecological wet zones so the developers can make obscene amounts.

Re the road between Honda & PSU I think all that land is owned by the Honda family, probably the largest landowners on the island which stems back to the tin mining days. Looks another latex shop going up & a new road (going to where?). It beats me how gullible people are to pay hugely inflated prices for latex & jewellery but there is the old adage "let the buyer beware". Mind you they have a captive market who have no chance to compare prices elsewhere.

[Nobb]

If they check every elected official in Thailand i truly think they would be able to arrest every one of them. Illegal is considered normal in Thailand for police and politicians!.