Landowners could face jail – Koh Samui ‘mystery tunnel’ case

PHOTOS: Manager Online

Koh Samui authorities are planning to pursue a case against the landowners on either side of a tunnel that was allegedly constructed without permission.

The tunnel connects the beach at Ban Tai with a private road and undeveloped piece of forest land two hundred metres from the island’s main ring road in the Mae Nam district. It was earlier reported that the tunnel was part of an uncompleted hotel development.

Island land official Phallop Meephian, local land officers, police and army were all on the scene investigating this week after a tourist stumbled on the mysterious tunnel and pondered what it was for and where it was leading. The tunnel is around 3.5 metres in diameter.

Manager Online reports that the two land plots, either side of the tunnel, are legally owned, have proper land title deeds with both Thais and a foreigner named on the documents.

But authorities have found no applications or permission granted for the tunnel.

Officials say that building such a structure without permission could lead to a prison term of three months and or a fine of 60,000 baht.

The tunnel was constructed between 2005 and 2006 and only recently came to the authorities’ attention after the foreign tourist stumbled on it, although locals claim they’ve ‘known about it for ages’.

The tunnel has now been blocked by authorities so that the public cannot gain entry.

SOURCE: Manager Online