Saraburi: “Big Tao” led a force to arrest officials from the Saraburi Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) and the village headman for colluding in the corruption of ALRO title deeds for 600-700 rai of land, benefiting investors who were building luxury homes.

According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Mr. Thanadon Suwannarit, Legal Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, led a force to arrest Mr. Wichayut, a skilled surveyor, and Mr. Sippakorn, the village headman of Nong Yang Suea Subdistrict, Muak Lek District. The arrests were made pursuant to warrants from the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 1. The charges against them include abusing their authority to facilitate encroachment on forest land for capitalists.

Previously, an investigation revealed a luxury cafe and resort in Muak Lek District encroaching on forest land. The investigation uncovered that some government officials had abused their authority to benefit investors by issuing Sor Por Kor. 4-01 title deeds. These deeds were used to claim possession of the land.

Evidence shows that six government officials, mainly from the Saraburi Provincial Land Reform Office and local administrative bodies, were involved in the improper issuance of title deeds to capitalists. Their duties were divided, including signing agricultural land certificates for natural forests, issuing qualification certificates without proper verification, and dispatching officials to inspect and survey the land.

Mr. Wichayut initially stated he would provide a statement to investigators and briefly mentioned to the media that he was forced to survey the land. However, he declined to confirm whether he knew the area was under ALRO jurisdiction. The village headman also refused to answer questions from the media.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat later took the suspects to a meeting room in the Land Reform Office in Saraburi Province for questioning. Wichayut and Sippakorn were then transported to Bangkok for further investigation.

Authorities discovered a luxury cliffside residence under construction in the area, with workers fleeing before their arrival. Nearby, a clearing of agricultural land was found hidden among standing trees. The forest area covers approximately 600-700 rai, and the suspects are believed to be part of a network hired to issue false documents designating the forest as ALRO land.

Mr. Thanadon Suwannarit stated that several other individuals, including current and former government officials, were involved in the issuance of false documents. They exploited forest areas with valuable rosewood trees, reporting them as degraded forest.

Of the six suspects, five have been arrested: Mr. Arun, Mr. Wichayut, Mr. Sipakorn, Mr. Banjong, and Mr. Kitiwut, while Mr. Phonlakrit remains at large. Authorities are expanding their investigation to take legal action against all involved.