The verdict was handed down in the land claim by plaintiff Boonsri Tantiwattanawanlop against sea gypsies Aeaw Hardsaithong, Woranan Hadsaithong, Bancha Hadsaithong and Niran Hyangpan.
Mr Niran exited the courthouse at about 11am and broke the news to the 100-odd sea gypsies waiting anxiously outside, who cheered vociferously.
Ms Boonsri and her legal representative did not appear in court today to hear the ruling.
“The court dismissed the claim,” Mr Niran told Khao Phuket. (See story here.)
“We have photo evidence of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej when he visited our village in 1959 with a picture of a coconut tree.
“The plaintiff argued that the coconut tree today was only 10 years old, but forensic tests found that the same coconut tree is now 30 years old,” he explained.
The court dismissed the claim, even though the plaintiff presented a land document deed as evidence to her rights to the land, Mr Niran said.
However, the fight might yet be far from over as Ms Boonsri can appeal today’s verdict.
The Phuket News has yet to learn whether any action will be taken to further investigate the land document presented by Ms Boonsri in support of her claim.