Security tightened at Land Office

PHUKET TOWN: Security has been beefed up at the Phuket Provincial Land Office amid fears that those involved in the recent murder of a Land Office official may try to burn the building down or otherwise destroy land documents linking them to the killing. The security alert comes on the direct orders of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He instructed the Phuket provincial authorities to take action to ensure that evidence is not destroyed before it can be examined by officials investigating the assassination of Land Office Assistant Chief Pongtorn Hiranyaburana. K. Pongtorn was shot dead in his car on April 25 as he headed home to Surat Thani province for the weekend. He had been investigating a number of cases of illegal use of public land. After Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi inspected security arrangements this afternoon, Boonsong Numnapol, Chief of the PPLO told the Gazette, “We are being tougher on security because we have important land documents that may provide clues as to why our Assistant Chief was shot. “Phuket Town Police Station has posted officers to watch the Land Office 24 hours a day, but particularly at night and during government holidays,” K. Boonsong added.