Hang dong district: A joint team of officials from various environmental and law enforcement agencies conducted an inspection of land owned by “Boss Kant” in Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province, to verify the legality of its acquisition and use. The inspection, prompted by allegations on a well-known social media page, aimed to determine if the land was part of a forest area and whether it was an asset acquired from illicit business activities.
According to Thai News Agency, the operation was carried out by the 4th Division, Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division of Chiang Mai, along with the 1st Forest Resource Management Office and Mr. Somchai Tichai, Director of DSI Area 5. The team used drones for aerial surveys and confirmed that the land, measuring 7 rai and 70 square wa, is located next to Wat Kiri Khet and extends to the Mae Tha Chang River, Ban Pong Subdistrict. The land, currently leased to villagers for agriculture, is properly registered with a title deed issued legall
y on March 25, 2010.
Further investigations revealed that Mr. Kant Kantathaworn, also known as Boss Kant, acquired the property on November 30, 2018, from Mr. Kitti of Bangkok, for a purchase price of 2,500,000 baht, as per the land sales contract from the Land Office. The appraisal price at the time of purchase was calculated based on 750 baht per square wa, totaling an appraisal amount of 2,152,500 baht for the entire area. In addition, on March 21, 2022, Boss Kant requested the subdivision of 70 square wa for public utility, which was approved leaving the title deed to show the remaining 7 rai.
Despite having advertised the land for 40 million baht on Instagram, there have been no buyers. Boss Kant was arrested prior to the sale. The inspection is part of a broader investigation by DSI officers into 18 other land purchases by individuals associated with the Icon Group in the northern regions of Chiang Mai and Lampang, with further actions expected as the inquiry progresses.