Investigators to urge govt to seize Samsara

PHUKET: The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) will propose that the government seize the land on which the Samsara development is being built after “proving clearly” that it is state land.

The proposal will be put before the Committee on State Land at its next meeting on Monday (September 27). The committee is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Thammarak Issarangkul na Ayutthaya.

CSD Chief Pol Maj Gen Kosin Hintao, accompanied by a Deputy Secretary of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, Pol Col Kovit Piromwong, flew over the site today in a helicopter to look at the development from the air.

After the aerial inspection, Gen Kosin said, “We have proved clearly that the land documents for it are not genuine, and yet it was used for the building of million-dollar homes for sale to foreigners. This land must be returned to the state.

“I will propose to Gen Thammarak on September 27 that he present our recommendation to the Cabinet for them to decide whether to seize the land.”

As for the homes, he said, “It will be up to the Cabinet to decide what to do with them. But there is no way that they will become private property, even if they have already been sold, because the project is based on a breach of the law.

“The buyers of the houses can sue the project owner, Pacific Villa Co [PVC], for the return of their money,” the general said.

He added that executives of PVC will be investigated and, if found to have broken the law intentionally, will be arrested.

Somchai Duangkae, Director of PVC, told the Gazette this evening, “The Samsara land papers are 100% genuine and we have evidence of this, approved by many government offices. If we can’t trust documents approved by the government, who can we trust?

“How can the police act like judges? Can they decide who is in the right and who is in the wrong? It’s not fair.”

He added, “This will have a huge effect on Thailand. This is how things are done in an underdeveloped country. It will affect investment in Thailand and the credibility of the government, and people will wonder whether officials are using their powers correctly.”

K. Somchai said that he would always be available to answer questions from anyone, whether it be the Chief of the CSD or members of the media.

The investigators also flew over projects on Koh Racha and Koh Hei.

Gen Kosin said, “After looking at these places we found that more plots of state land had been occupied by private individuals than when I flew over them last year.”