Freedom Beach, which can only be reached by boat, has long had a reputation as “the secret beach you shouldn’t tell anyone else about”.
The visit follows a complaint to the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) last year by a group of people calling themselves The Phuketians.
They alleged that the occupier of the land, Pantong Na Ranong, had obtained title to it through "corrupt processes" involving 11 officials.
The most prominent name on the list of those allegedly involved is that of former Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa'ngob, whose signature of approval appears on the title deed. Mr Wichai is now the appointed senator for Phuket.
In response, PACC officials visited Phuket in December to inspect the land, which covers 65 rai of sloping land with wide views over the Andaman Sea, but which appears to be inside the boundaries of the Nakkerd Forest Reserve.
A source who has been following the case, but who did not want to be named, said he understood that the land was up for sale at B43 million per rai, or a total of B2.8 billion.
Channel 3 TV’s 3D News reported that Mr Pantong claimed to have bought the land in 1989 from Taweep Wutthithammaporn, whose father, in turn, had claimed ownership since 1937, 17 years before the forest reserve was established in 1954.
However, the PACC investigation found out that Mr Taweep had made a statement to a land official in 1976 that he occupied the land in 1967 – seven after the forest reserve was declared.
The PACC found out Mr Pantong had been asking the Provincial Land Office for a chanote title deed for more than 20 years, and had finally received it on April 12 last year.
However, the PACC could find no trace of a Sor Kor 1 paper for the land – an essential part of the paper trail involved in establishing ownership.
In addition, the land had not been surveyed before the chanote was issued, the PACC noted. The Land Office responded that the land had been surveyed in 1990, and there was therefore no need for it to be surveyed again.
Suspecting false statements and irregular processes in the issuing of the title deed, the PACC decided to submit the names of 10 officials from the Land Office and the Forestry Office, along with Senator Wichai, to the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further investigation.
This resulted in Mr Prompong’s decision to visit Phuket this week, in line with Puea Thai stated intention to stamp out corruption in Thailand. He is expected to report his findings to the party and the NACC.
In late December, Senator Wichai told media that he signed the title deeds after checking papers submitted to him by officials, which showed that the land could be owned by individuals.
These papers also stated that Mr Taweep owned the land before the Forest Reserve was set up.
“A governor’s signature is not for issuing a title deed,” said Mr Wichai. “If there are proven documents [for issuing title deeds], I am obliged to sign.”