Alpine land deeds critic transferred
The Land Department director general who had suggested that the Interior Ministry revoke the land deeds granted illegally to the Alpine golf course and a housing estate in Pathum Thani has been moved to an inactive position.
Anuwat Methiwiboonwut, the department’s chief, will be made deputy permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry in a reshuffle proposed by Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, which was endorsed by the Cabinet yesterday.
During the previous government’s tenure, Anuwat urged then-interior minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul to revoke the land deeds granted to Alpine after the Council of State concluded that the plots in question were monastic land and hence could not be bought or sold. The Council of State is the government’s legal advisory agency.
Though Chaovarat took no action at the time, Anuwat’s recommendation reportedly upset many figures in the Pheu Thai Party, which led the Opposition at the time.
The Alpine scandal is linked to certain figures connected to the now-ruling Pheu Thai Party, namely Yongyuth, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and former interior minister Snoh Thienthong
Snoh once owned the plots that had initially been donated to a Buddhist temple and later turned into a golf course and housing estate. Thaksin obtained the land from Snoh later.
Yongyuth, while serving as caretaker permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, had agreed to a ruling that the Alpine land plots were not monastic land, which went against a ruling from the Land Department, which is an agency under the Interior Ministry.
The Alpine case is currently being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Yongyuth is one of the politicians under scrutiny.
Lampang Governor Booncherd Kidhen has replaced Anuwat, who is set to retire at the end of September.
Booncherd is close to Yongyuth and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, another key figure in the ruling party.
The governor joined the Land Department as a junior lawyer and rose in the ranks to become deputy director-general before becoming governor of Lampang province in the North less than a year ago.
The other senior Interior Ministry officials involved in the reshuffle include Rayong Governor Thawatchai Therdphaothai, who will take over in Lampang; and Trang Governor Seni Jittakasem, who will replace Thawatchai as Rayong governor.
Seni is being replaced by Surat Thani Governor Thirayuth Iamtrakul, whose job will be taken over by Interior inspector-general Cherdsak Choosri.
Cherdsak’s job in the ministry will be filled by Roi Et Governor Somsak Khamthaweephrom, who will be replaced by Interior inspector-general Wanchart Wongchaichana.
