Phuket readies over 200 officials to restore free access to Freedom Beach after Nov 7 fraud arrest

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin outlined plans on November 7, 2026, to restore free public access to Phuket’s Freedom Beach following arrests over alleged sales of national forest reserve land. More than 200 officials are being mobilised to remove structures and access barriers.

Suchart and his delegation visited Kathu Police Station on the evening of November 7 after the Central Investigation Bureau arrested Parinthorn, known as “Sia Lek of Freedom Beach”. Police accuse Parinthorn of jointly defrauding the public and entering false information into a computer system by offering protected forest land for sale while claiming to hold land-rights documents. The suspects initially denied the charges.

The proposed Freedom Beach operation covers approximately 60–70 rai, or 9.6–11.2 hectares, valued at several billion baht. Suchart said the state land would be returned to public use without entrance fees or payments to influential groups.
Freedom Beach plan targets over 20 structures and barriers
Suchart said personnel from the Royal Forest Department, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and other agencies would use excavators to remove more than 20 structures and obstructions around Freedom Beach.

The Freedom Beach access works will include removing an existing staircase of approximately 70–80 steps, landscaping the area and creating a new route down to the beach for swimming and recreation. Suchart set a target of visible progress within one day of the operation.

Suchart emphasised that reclaiming state land and pursuing criminal proceedings were separate tasks. He pledged that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government would not tolerate mafia groups or influential figures, and that law enforcement officers would not be intimidated in their efforts to secure justice for the public.

Freedom Beach arrests follow nearly six-month investigation

Police Major General Anek Taosupap, commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, inspected land boundaries during an investigation lasting nearly six months. Investigators alleged that land within a national forest reserve had been fraudulently offered for sale, causing buyers to lose tens of millions of baht.

Evidence gathered during the Freedom Beach investigation led to arrest warrants and the detention of Parinthorn and alleged accomplices.

Freedom Beach buyers describe multimillion-baht losses

Russian investor Andrei, 41, said he had lost 16 million baht in land transactions with Parinthorn during 2025–2026. According to his account reported by Kom Chad Luek, he intended to build a pool villa for himself and his foreign fiancée, with the property also serving as their honeymoon destination.

Andrei first contacted Parinthorn after seeing a land-sale sign while visiting Freedom Beach. He described arriving in Thailand with affection for the country and trust in the people involved, believing he would not be deceived, before television reports left him deeply disappointed.

Andrei said the alleged Freedom Beach fraud had caused severe hardship for both him and his family and represented a major personal setback. He hoped the Thai government would help secure justice and thanked the authorities for taking the victims’ difficulties seriously.

Andrei also alleged that Parinthorn had lodged a false theft complaint accusing him and his family of entering a house to steal Buddhist amulets. Andrei denied the accusation, explaining that Parinthorn had allowed him and his partner to stay there while the home he had purchased was being built.

Police investigated and interviewed those involved before deciding not to pursue criminal proceedings against Andrei, according to his account. Andrei alleged that Parinthorn nevertheless continued to pressure him psychologically to leave Thailand, prompting him to file a defamation complaint to protect himself.

Thai complainant Aisawan Thongchot said she had lost 5.4 million baht after agreeing to a purported transfer of lease rights to operate an entertainment venue at Freedom Beach, according to Kom Chad Luek. She contacted Parinthorn in 2024 after seeing an advertisement on his personal social media account.

Aisawan alleged that Parinthorn repeatedly persuaded her to invest more money before she eventually filed a police complaint. She went to Kathu Police Station after learning of the arrests and, speaking on behalf of other complainants, expressed relief while stressing the need to follow the remaining legal proceedings.

Aisawan doubted that she would recover her money from Parinthorn because she did not know how it had been spent or what assets he still held. She urged state agencies to recognise the difficulties facing affected business operators and local residents, and asked them to consider lawful business leases in the area.

Suchart orders help for victims and plans beach security

Suchart instructed Phuket’s governor to compile information on the complainants and expedite assistance after meeting people who said the alleged fraud had left them financially ruined.

Suchart apologised to those affected, including Andrei. Complainants expressed concerns about the suspects’ alleged influence and firearms, while the minister urged them not to be afraid, describing the evidence gathered by investigators as clear.

Suchart also outlined plans to station officials at Freedom Beach to provide sustained protection for residents and tourists. Victims thanked the minister and the Central Investigation Bureau for pursuing the case and securing the arrests.

People who believe they were deceived into buying land rights at Freedom Beach can file additional complaints at Kathu Police Station.