Govt officials, businessmen face prosecution over national park land scam
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is currently preparing to prosecute a group of 16 government officials and businessmen for allegedly encroaching on land belonging to Sirinat National Park in Phuket.
The commission plans to soon file a lawsuit at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
The group of government officials and businesses allegedly used a document called Sor Kor 1 to appropriate title deeds for 1,755 rai (281 hectares) land worth 30 billion baht since 2004.
The encroachment later expanded to 2,743 rai worth over 50 billion baht after 2011.
Related stories:
- Top ministry official sacked for embezzling relief funds
- Palang Pracharath MP Wirat, 86 others face legal action over graft allegations
- NACC looking into two projects in Trang
Kittipat Tharapiban, the former national park chief, said once the legal procedures are completed, they will repair the ecosystem and allow citizens to use the Sirinat beach area.
"We have prepared 6,000 whistling pine tree sprouts to revive the ecosystem at the beach," he said.
