DSI says land documents were illegally issued for the Phuket “Sri Panwa” resort
The luxury resort in Phuket accused of land encroachment will now be investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Department of Land, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations looked into the “Sri Panwa” project in Phuket and said that the resort illegally acquired land rights documents.
According to Nation Thailand, the DSI found that Sri Panwa land may have been acquired through the illegal issuance of land rights documents. That information will be sent to the NACC and Department of Land to review. Land the project uses for a swimming pool and pathway to Panwa Beach does not have land documents and is in a protected forest under Thailand’s National Reserved Forest Act. The statement from the DSI says that the use of the protected land is considered to be a money laundering offence and the information has been passed on to the Anti-Money Laundering Office for review.
Last year, the Phuket Land Office reviewed the land title deeds and issued a statement to say the hotel does not occupy state land. The 5-star resort had earlier caught the attention of those on social media when the owner publicly criticised a pro-democracy activist on Instagram, saying the activist should be in jail for statements against the Thai monarchy. Those who support the protest movement called for a boycott of his property and left several negative comments on various review sites. Trip Advisor even temporarily suspended the hotel’s account due to the online attack.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
