Chalerm orders probe on plot linked to Suthep

The Land Department is expected to complete its report within 60 days to determine the legality of the land ownership.

Chalerm said he took action after receiving a complaint claiming that the plot was a public land before it was wrongfully converted into a private ownership through a scam.

He said the plot originally covered 6,000 rai as public land in Khiri Rat Nikhom district. Later capitalists from outside the area wrongfully carved out 2,000 rai by petitioning for the land right under the names of 81 villagers who testified as settlers.

Once the capitalists received the land right, they sold the plot to a company. The ownership changed three time and the plot ended up as collateral for a loan from Krung Thai Bank before defaulting on repayments, he said.

The bank put the plot on the market and Sri Suban Farm Company, linked to Suthep, bought it, he said.

He said the complaint about the land scam was filed since 2004 but no action was taken until he took office. He dismissed speculation that he was trying to politicise the matter in order to pick on Suthep.

The Nation