Thai minister demands Shinawatra family forfeit Alpine Golf land
Thai Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also leads the Bhumjaithai Party, announced yesterday that the Shinawatra family’s ownership of extensive land at Alpine Golf and Sports Club should be rescinded. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is connected to these holdings through familial ties.
Anutin stated that Chamnanwit Terat, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Interior, must ensure the revocation is completed by the end of September, ahead of his retirement in October. Chamnanwit oversees the Department of Lands and is expected to fulfil this responsibility, with potential consequences for dereliction of duty if he fails.
According to Anutin, the Council of State has already indicated that the land ownership by the private sector should be annulled. If the revocation occurs, the current owners will require compensation, which will be calculated based on the land’s current market value, imposing a significant financial burden on the Department of Lands.
Anutin emphasised that this issue does not suggest any conflict between his Bhumjaithai Party and the Pheu Thai Party led by Paetongtarn. A Pheu Thai minister previously claimed that a disputed land plot at Khao Kradong in Buriram province, a Bhumjaithai political stronghold, belongs to the State Railway of Thailand.
The 924-rai property at Alpine Golf and Sports Club, along with a housing complex in the Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani province, was originally donated in 1971 by Noem Chamnanchartsakda to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn, a temple in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
After her death, the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation managed her estate and sold the land to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, despite legal restrictions on the sale of temple land.
Paetongtarn, who assumed office on August 18 last year, previously held 22.41 million shares in Alpine Golf and Sports Club Co. As of September 4, she transferred these shares to her mother, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, according to Isra News. Khunying Potjaman is the former spouse of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Shareholder records from September 4 last year reveal that Khunying Potjaman, Panthongtae Shinawatra, and Pinthongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong hold 29.88 million, 22.42 million, and 22.41 million shares in the company, respectively, reported Bangkok Post.
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