Phuket land grab suspect arrested
PHUKET: Police charged a man with encroaching on a protected Phuket forest yesterday after he was found building two houses amid mangroves in Wichit.
The arrest came during a raid led by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak at a site near Klong Mudong (map here).
The raid was inspired by a complaint filed by local villagers, Vice Governor Somkiet told the Phuket Gazette.
“Officers used GPS to confirm the location of the one-rai plot being built on, and found that the land was within the boundaries of a protected forest,” Vice Governor Somkiet said.
Leading the construction of the two houses was Somsak Yongyuth, 45.
“I rent the land from a man for 10,000 baht per year. I don’t know the man’s name and I have no idea whether or not the land has been issued a title deed,” Mr Somsak told the officers.
“But he allowed me to build my rental houses first and start paying rent later, so I started the construction,” he added.
Mr Somsak was taken to Wichit Police Station and charged with encroaching on a protected forest.
Police are continuing their investigation to track down the person who Mr Somsak said rented the land to him.
— Kritsada Mueanhawong
