The latest complaint, against the Peninsula Resort at the southern end of Naiyang Bay, was filed by the new chief of the park, Cheewapap Cheewatham, and Ittisak Taewtiang, director of Resources and Protection, Conservation Sector 2 Management Office.
The complaint charges that the resort encroaches on some nine rai of national park land “worth more than B1 billion”.
Besides Peninsula, those against whom complaints have been laid so far are Phuket Arcadia Co, for its Pullman Arcadia Resort, currently under construction at the north end of Naithon Beach; La Colline property development, high in the hills above Layan Beach; and French national Bernard Gauthier, owner of a private villa at the south end of the Trisara resort.
According to Suntorn Wacharakuldilok, consultant to the secretary of the Departmemnt National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Department, investigations into the other seven plots are still ongoing.
It is alleged that “flying SorKor1” papers underlie the issue of documents on several plots – evidence of official corruption involved in the issue of land documents.
Mr Suntorn noted that the companies or individuals who buy and then build on properties with titles to land in the national park “may not be aware they are building on National Forest land, but local people do”.
He explained that charges were being preferred only against the owners, “because this type of case has a time limit.” He said officials who involved in issuing improper titles would be prosecuted in the future “if evidence is clear enough for prosecution”.
Mr Chaweepap said: “Investigation of the remaining seven properties must proceed carefully and follow in detail every step of the process, because they have papers issued by the Land Department.”
– Source: Manager Online