Mr Parinthorn (surname withheld), 51, presented himself to investigators at Karon Police Station yesterday (May 12) in connection with alleged encroachment on protected forest areas at Freedom Beach.
According to Karon Police, the four cases of encroachment involve 57 rai of land in the protected forest, detailed as:
- Case No. 224/2569: 9 rai, 3 ngan and 40 square wah
- Case No. 227/2569: 50 square wah
- Case No. 228/2569: 1 ngan and 4 square wah
- Case No. 229/2569: 82 square wah
Karon Police Chief Pol Col Pathapi Srichai said investigators formally charged, questioned and fingerprinted Parinthorn, also attributed the nickname ‘Mr L’, in accordance with legal procedures.
He said officers had been instructed to handle the investigation carefully, transparently and in full accordance with the law.
Police are also coordinating with the Phuket Provincial Forestry Office to collect additional evidence for further legal proceedings, he added.
ACTION
Pol Maj Gen Nanthachart Supamongkol, Assistant Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), yesterday led an inspection of the land encroachment at Freedom Beach, declaring that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered decisive action to reclaim protected forest land and public beach access for the public.
Joining Pol Maj Gen Nanthachart for the inspection were MNRE Inspector-General Kantaphan Pisalsukskul, Phuket Provincial Palad (Chief Administrative Officer) Rungruang Thimabut, Phuket Provincial Land Reform Officer Manit Ekasuwan and Phuket Forestry Center Director Sampan Meesit.
The operation was carried out in coordination with the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO), Internal Security Operations Command and local administrative officials.
According to an official report of the inspection by the Phuket branch of the PR Department, without naming any sources or attributing any quotes, so-called unnamed authorities admitted the problem of encroachment onto protected forest land had persisted for more than 10 years.
According to investigators, said PR Phuket, the encroachment “allegedly” began with a group of caretakers managing land on behalf of the original owner since 2015. Following the owner’s death and legal action against officials accused of illegally issuing land title documents, the caretakers allegedly took control of the area themselves.
The report then blamed “influential figures” for later becoming involved in expanding control over the area and asserting exclusive ownership of beach access routes.
Public hiking trails were blocked and tourists charged entrance fees of B200 to B300 were imposed under the claim that the money was being used for maintenance and waste management.
The official report even admitted ‒ again, with no attribution ‒ that Investigators “further alleged that forged land title documents were used in attempts to insert claims into official land databases”.
How that could be achieved without complicity by corrupt officials was not noted in the official report.
Regardless, the report noted that inspections had resulted in seizures and 23 legal cases filed under the Forestry Act and the National Forest Reserve Act.
Pol Maj Gen Nanthachart said the operation followed direct orders from Prime Minister Anutin, who instructed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin to closely monitor the case and ensure swift enforcement action.
“The government has a policy of taking decisive action against all lawbreakers,” he said.
He added that relevant agencies had been instructed to accelerate investigations and legal proceedings in order to reclaim forest land and public beaches “for the nation and its people”.
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee yesterday again called for an Anti-Money Laundering Office investigation into alleged financial links behind the encroachment of protected forest land surrounding Freedom Beach.
In an online post following a multi-agency meeting at Karon Police Station, Mr Chalermpong said the issue of influential groups allegedly attempting to seize control of land within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve had become a major public concern.
The meeting at Karon Police Station was attended by Pol Maj Gen Nanthachart, senior forestry officials, police and other government agencies following the surrender of Parinthorn to acknowledge charges of forest encroachment in the Freedom Beach area.
MP Chalermpong said Phuket’s natural resources were vital to the province’s tourism industry and warned that alleged claims of ownership and sales of protected land to foreigners were damaging the island’s image and investor confidence.
“Freedom Beach is a beautiful beach and protected forest area, a national asset,” he said.
He added that references to “mafia” or “influential groups” operating in the area were unacceptable and confirmed that a letter would be sent to the Anti-Money Laundering Office requesting an investigation into the financial trail connected to the case.
Regarding illegal occupation and fraudulent sales of protected forest land around Freedom Beach, MP Chalermpong noted that several structures remained at the site, with some completed and others still under construction.
Investigations into the wider encroachment operation have so far resulted in 23 legal cases involving 17 suspects across more than 57 rai of protected forest land in Karon and Patong, he said.
Seized items included 10 structures, construction equipment, four elephants and a Sig Sauer P320 pistol with 37 rounds of ammunition.
GPS surveys by officials confirmed parts of the disputed land lie within the Khao Nakkerd National Forest Reserve under protections established by ministerial regulation issued in 1973, MP Chalermpong said.
Officials believe the actions may constitute violations of both the National Forest Reserve Act and the Forest Act, carrying potential prison terms, fines and liability for environmental damage compensation, he added.
Environmental damage assessments are also being prepared by forestry experts for inclusion in the case files, MP Chalermpong also noted.
Pol Maj Gen Nanthachart said officials were gathering information and reviewing the progress of legal action during the field visit and meeting.
He confirmed that additional arrests and prosecutions had emerged from the investigation, while forestry officials had provided statements to police investigators.
“Fairness will be given to all parties, and if wrongdoing is found, legal action will be taken,” he said.