The governor of Nakhon Ratchasima has revoked land title deeds thought to have been illegally obtained by a state official on areas reserved for agricultural purposes in Pak Chong district.
Examining a report by a panel investigating the alleged misconduct of a land surveyor attached to the Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro), Thongchai Lue-adul said he found evidence backing the allegation and decided to withdraw the deeds.
"I made the decision as governor, but the revocation still needs to be finalised by the chief of the Lands Department,'' he said.
He said he could not reveal further details of the probe.
The case caught the attention of the media when Alro — which oversees land distribution for poor farmers — ordered the transfer of Pornthawi Sutantiras to an inactive post during the probe into her alleged involvement in illegal acquisition of land in Pak Chong.
Ms Pornthawi is accused of allegedly using Sor Kor 1 papers — documents informing authorities about the occupation of land, and which in this case were granted for areas near the entrance of Khao Yai National Park — to apply for title deeds for more than 155 rai in her husband's name.
At least 130 rai of the land covered by the deeds was agricultural reform land which is reserved for farmers and cannot be sold, according to the initial investigation.
After the initial transaction, Ms Pornthawi allegedly resold the land for 10 million baht per rai.
It is believed many buyers are high-ranking officials who acquired scenic areas in Pak Chong with Ms Pornthawi's assistance, according to an Alro source.
Mr Thongchai said he believes Ms Pornthawi's actions will eventually become clear to the public because investigations into land-related crimes are, by nature, easier than other probes into movable assets.
"Land cannot change its form," he said. Investigators can conduct surveys of land and inspect problem areas. "Eventually, authorities will return encroached land to the nation."
The probe into Ms Pornthawi's alleged wrongdoing is among other high-profile investigations related to irregularities in the process of issuing land documents in Nakhon Ratchasima.
They include accusations of illegal land acquisition against the Bonanza Golf and Country Club and Kirimaya Golf Resort and Spa in Pak Chong district.
Authorities suspect Bonanza's racetrack encroaches on Alro land and forest reserves. Even though Kirimaya's owner has correct land ownership documents, the golf resort and spa allegedly encroaches on Khao Yai forest land. Investigators believe the documents were issued unlawfully.
These irregularities are being examined closely by state agencies, said Col Sommai Busaba, who heads the 2nd Army's legal team looking into land encroachment nationwide.
Authorities are planning their next crackdown on forest encroachment cases in Wang Nam Khieo district, also in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Eight government ministries last month surveyed the nation's forests, which comprise roughly 102.1 million rai — 31.57% of total state land — which is down by six million rai since the previous survey in 2008.
Officials said a shortage of rangers to protect forests has led to intrusion onto public land.
