Phuket firm charged with encroachment

PHUKET CITY: The state prosecutor’s office has charged the owner of a Phuket company with conspiracy to encroach on state land on Yao Yai Island in Phang Nga Bay.

The defendant was identified as Chaiyapon Phoojareorn, owner and manager of Ji Liang Phuket Fishing Co Ltd.

Mr Chaiyapon was yesterday formally charged in the Region 4 Criminal Court in Bangkok with conspiring with others to take illegal possession of state land covering 25 rai in Tambon Phru Nai, which covers the southern half of Yao Yai.

The state has charged that from October 2000 to April 2006 the defendant and his associates conspired to take possession of state land, some of which was protected forest.

Mr Chaiyapon presented himself for questioning in the case to officials in the Justice Ministry’s Department of Special Investigation, or DSI, on April 22, 2004.

He has denied the charges.

The court hearing date has been set for December 28 at 1.30pm.

Three other DSI encroachment cases will be filed against Mr Chaiyapon and his associates.

These include encroachment on parcels of state land measuring about 128 rai, 60 rai and 70 rai, respectively.

The alleged encroachment dates back as far as 1992.

— MCOT