Round-up of alleged land scammers 'could hurt image'
Two alleged members of the Bandidos, an international motorcycle gang, British national Crispin John Granville Paton-Smith, 43, and Danish national Kim Lindegaard Nielsen, 36, are taken to be detained at Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court’s prison ye
|
|
The governor of Surat Thani expressed concern yesterday that a round-up of foreigners allegedly involved in land scams on Koh Samui may affect the province's business image.
Three foreigners - alleged to be members of an international motorcycle gang - and a Thai government surveyor were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of illegal land sales on the resort island. Provincial governor Wichit Wichaisan said the land-ownership probe and inquiry into alleged members of the Bandidos gang should be carried out carefully. Complaints had poured in about the land-title checks. Wichit said he would not demand land-ownership checks for all districts of Surat Thani as that would interrupt new business in this tourist province, which has attracted many investors. However, Ruangnam Jaikwang, president of the Surat Thani Tourism Association, said he wanted officials to use the opportunity to bring about order. He said investors should be confident that if they bought land in the area, they would not have legal problems later on. Ruangnam admitted that news had affected investment, but he believed investors would return. Meanwhile, the three foreign accused had lawyers present during interrogation at the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) office in Bangkok. The three are British nationals, Crispin John Granville Paton-Smith, 43, and Peter Watkin Jones, 40, and Dane, Kim Lindegaard Nielsen, 36. The DSI director for foreign affairs, Colonel Narat Svestanan, said Paton-Smith and Neilsen did not speak during the interview because they would give testimony in court. However, Peter Watkin Jones told police he had nothing to do with the land sales and was not a Bandidos member. Police suspect Jones might have been misled by the Bandidos into renting them a property they used for gang meetings, Narat said. The DSI was considering bail for Jones, but opposed bail for the other suspects. The alleged Thai accomplice, Pramual Somwong, was bailed. Meanwhile, a fact-finding team would look into the Peak Property project on Samui, which allegedly acquired land irregularly, caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana said. Some officials were already under investigation in the case, but the minister declined to give names. Those found to be involved would be punished, he said. In related news, the National Human Rights Commission is investigating nearly 100 houses under threat from plans for a dam in Surat Thani's Muang district. The homes are owned by fishermen in the Na Dan community, who are also concerned about plans to pave an 885-metre stretch of the Tapi River. The fishermen use the Tapi River to moor their boats.
The Nation SURAT THANI
|
