Chalerm to inspect Phuket land
PHUKET: Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung is expected to arrive in Phuket tomorrow ahead of an inspection tour on Wednesday of land plots that he stands accused of helping his friends to acquire, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit announced this morning.
During the recent censure debate, K. Chalerm was accused by Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thuegsuban of using his position to leverage the Land Department into helping his associates acquire coveted land plots in Phuket.
Plots identified by K. Suthep in the accusation included land in Cherng Talay, owned by Siam Chao Praya Land Co Ltd, and two plots on Koh Racha Yai owned by Racha Yai Estate Co Ltd and Racha Yai Island Co Ltd.
K. Chalerm is scheduled to inspect all three sites during his visit.
Expected to be accompanying Chalerm are Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Pongpayome Vasaputi, Land Department Director-General Chairerk Dissaya-amnaj, and heads of other other related agencies.
K. Pongpayome was Governor of Phuket from October 2000 through October 2003.
On Wednesday morning, before heading off on their inspection tour, the party is scheduled to join a meeting with the governor and high-level provincial officers in order to hear of any problems affecting Phuket that need urgent attention.
K. Chalerm is also scheduled to inspect plots of SorPorKor land totaling about 100 rai that have been reclaimed by order of the Supreme Court from five local landowners.
