Burapha Padhungthai, 56, owner of the Asom Burapa meditation centre in tambon Huai Sat Yai, reported to Pol Col Bancha Panpradub, deputy chief of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, on yesterday (July 19) to acknowledge the charge.
An investigation had found the centre was built on royal project land that was allocated to poor farmers and prohibited from being sold according to a cabinet resolution 38 years ago. Mr Burapha promised to knock down the buildings.
The centre covers 83 rai of land, 53 rai of which encroached on the state land under the supervision of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Office of Social Development and Human Security.
After being questioned for three hours, Mr Burapha admitted the encroachment but said his family purchased plots from villagers 10 year ago without knowing some were part of a royal project and could not change hands.
He said he had paid land tax to Huai Sat Yai Tambon Administration Organisation every year but officials had never told him the land could not be sold.
Mr Burapha said he felt sorry for the three elephants killed last week.
He said he fronted at the police office to prove his innocence and would demolish all buildings on the property before returning it to authorities.