“Smell of corruption’ in new land probe

PHUKET CITY: Senior police officers today inspected a 76-rai plot of land in the Panturat Hills behind Chan’s Antiques on the bypass road amid suspicions that corruption was involved in the issue of the land title. Crime Suppression Division Deputy Superintendent Pol Lt Col Korawath Panprapa and Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, were joined by officers from the Phuket Provincial Forestry Department and the Land Office. Also with them was a former land officer named by police as Jiam Srisuksai. He worked at the Phuket Provincial Land Office when the Nor Sor 3 papers for the plot, believed to be Forestry Department land, were issued in 1993. Declining to disclose the name of the “owner” of the land, Lt Col Korawath said, “We are still gathering evidence. If we find evidence of wrongdoing – and I suspect corruption – then we will prosecute.” An aerial inspection of the land parcel was due to take place this afternoon. The investigation continues.