Raids bring third land scandal arrest

BANGKOK (Kom Chad Luek): Police arrested Panthong Na Ranong, a former consultant of the New Aspiration Party (Kwamwangmai), during raids on Bangkok properties in Huay Khwang and Phra Khanong yesterday. Panthong, who was charged with conspiracy to falsify documents, was the third person arrested in investigations concerning fake land titles in Phuket. He was taken to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) for questioning by Pol Maj Gen Pansiri Prapawat, Maj Gen Surasit Sangkhapong, Commander of the CSD, and other officers. Police allege that the Chanote documents for a 65-rai plot in Karon owned by Panthong were falsified and issued by Thawatchai Anukul, former chief registrar of the Phuket Provincial Land Office. Panthong denied all charges and said that government officers had issued the documents and all titles had been verified by land officers. Thawatchai, who is wanted by police for his alleged involvement in fake land deeds on a number of large land plots in Phuket and Phang Nga, is still at large. In a separate development, Phang Nga Governor Samatcha Pothaworn said that there were six plots of land, owned by one family, involved in a case of falsified land titles and encroachment in Tambon Lamgaen and Natoey in the province. Deeds to three of the plots were to be revoked, and the Land Department has set up a committee to further investigate the case, he said.