Nai Harn encroachment probe making slow progress

NAI HARN: The investigation into the building of a resort on protected forest land at Ao Sane is making slow progress, though police expect to make more arrests soon, Chalong police have told the Gazette.

Some 30 forestry officials raided the illegal construction site on October 25. Two construction foremen, Virot Niyomdechai, 31, of Satun Province, and Viriya Yimsomboon, 25, of Nakhon Phatom, were arrested and their equipment seized.

Virot and Viriya were charged with violating Article 54 of the Forestry Act of 1941, Article 14 of the Forest Conservation Act of 1964, and Article 360 of the Penal Code.

At the time of the raid, the site had 12 buildings in various stages of completion.

“We know who the owner of that resort is but we can’t tell you because the investigation is on-going. More people are involved in this case, and we plan to charge those persons soon,” said Pol Lt Col Chokchai Sutthimek of Chalong police station.

“Muang District Chief Weerawat Janpen has held many meetings about this case, but we need time to gather more evidence. The two men we arrested have denied the charges in court. So now we must get more information from the Phuket Forestry Office,” he added.