Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr shows Natural Resources and Environment Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat a document he says backs up his claim of irregularities involving sales of trees from a government forest. They met at the party’s headqu

Yongyuth, who was a Democrat before moving to the Thai Rak Thai Party, arrived there in the morning accompanied by 20 top officials of his ministry and some policemen.

He was honouring his promise, made on Monday, to visit the Democrat headquarters and ask Alongkorn personally about the allegation, which he made on Sunday.

The minister didn't enter the headquarters, preferring to wait for Alongkorn. When Alongkorn arrived, he joked with Yongyuth, saying, "You still remember the way to your old home."

Alongkorn paid homage to the revered Mother Earth Statue, the party's symbol, before inviting Yongyuth inside. In a discussion held before journalists, the Democrat insisted he had evidence to back up his charges of an illegal timber sale.

He said he had received a contract for the sale of a 3,500-rai eucalyptus plantation, and a copy of cheque for Bt1,250,000 paid by a sub-district Administration Organisation in Mukdahan to Sneh Bunohen, an agent of the Forestry Industry Organisation, for 31,896 cubic metres of timber.

After listening to Alongkorn, Yongyuth denied any involvement in the alleged sale, and took Alongkorn to task for not consulting him before going public with the matter.

However, the minister said he would refer the case to the Department of Special Investigation for an urgent investigation. Furthermore, he said he would try to find Sneh and ask him about the charges, adding that he did not know Sneh.

After the meeting with the Democrat, Yongyuth went to Sneh's house in Nonthaburi but couldn't find him.

Upon returning to Government House, the minister held a press conference, and told reporters: "Alongkorn was deceived by a gang of tricksters. I found Sneh's wife at his home and she told me that Sneh was a swindler."

However, Yongyuth said he would try to verify the cheque that Alongkorn mentioned and file a complaint against whoever wrote it. He also said he would arrest Sneh for alleged involvement in fraud if warranted.

Yongyuth said he had gone to the Democrat offices as he wanted to see what evidence Alongkorn had and to put the matter to rest.