Officials face probe over Pak Chong land grab

The source said a team investigating the allegation was about to ask the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to set up a fact-finding subcommittee and launch a probe against them.
“Evidence suggests nine officials and three [civilians] have been involved in the case,” the source added.
The case relates to Porntawee Sutantirat, a surveyor at the Nakhon Ratchasima Agricultural Land Reform Office, and her alleged accomplices.
Last week, Porntawee was slapped with an abrupt transfer order as evidence emerged she might have helped her husband illegally claim more than 130 rai (44 acres) of land in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district.
It was earlier reported that her husband’s land-rights documents covered just 30 rai in Pak Chong in the beginning – but after they were turned into land-title deeds, the size of the land covered 155 rai – an alleged encroachment on about 130 rai of agricultural-reform land.
PACC secretary-general Prayong Preeyachitt yesterday said he agreed with the Agricultural Land Reform Office’s decision to transfer Porntawee out of the area.
“That way, it is going to be easier to investigate the case,” he said.
At present, the PACC has assigned one of its local offices to investigate the illegitimate issuance of land-rights documents in Pak Chong – the factor that has aggravated encroachment problems.
Many big businesses in Pak Chong, such as Bonanza International Speedway, are accused of encroaching on forestland and agricultural-reform land.
Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya and Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan have already instructed 20 relevant government agencies to come up with a clear report on the areas under their supervision and measures they have used in tackling/preventing land encroachment, a source said.
“They are expected to present their reports at a meeting on May 15,” the source said.
It added that Paiboon and Dapong were serious about the prevention of land encroachment as available information revealed the country now had just 102 million rai of forestland.
Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima Agricultural Land Reform Office’s new chief Chamnan Klinchan is trying to get back to his old post in his home province of Udon Thani.
He started work in Nakhon Ratchasima last month.
“During the past month, I have been serious about investigating alleged irregularities and solving problems,” Chamnan said, “But I really wish I could go back to my old post so that I can take care of my family too”.
Chamnan denied reports he was seeking a transfer out of pressure from the ongoing investigations into many alleged land encroachment cases in Nakhon Ratchasima.