Chai speaker-designate after vote

Chai, as the senior-most member of Parliament, became a leading candidate to replace Yongyuth. In yesterday's House meeting to select a new Speaker for endorsement by His Majesty the King, he received 283 votes. Democrat Banyat Bantadtan received 158 votes while 12 MPs abstained.

However, Chai still has to deal with two cases involving land encroachment and illegal documentation. If the cases go to court, he might have to follow Yongyuth out of the Speaker's office.

Chai and his wife La-ong have been accused by former parliamentary candidate Sakchai Techakriengkrai of encroaching on public land in Buri Ram's Satuk district with their shrimp farm, called La-ong Agriculture.

Police claim they found the couple had fenced in 139 rai of land and excavated the land and a public pond, acting as if they were the landowners.

The law prohibits the issuing of land documents for public land and ponds.

The couple have refused three times to be interrogated by local police and investigators, claiming sickness.

Chai has also been accused of illegally issuing land documents and illegally occupying land belonging to the State Railway of Thailand.

The two parcels of land straddle the railway. On one side is Silachai quarry and on the other is "Chidchob Castle", where Thaksin Shinawatra twice stayed overnight while prime minister.

Chai issued documents to himself for one parcel covering 37 rai on October 26, 1972 when he was the kamnan. He sold the land to his wife La-ong, who in turn sold the land to Silachai 1991 Co. Their son Newin, Thaksin's close aide, is chairman of that company.