Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho
(second left) instructs authorities to protect public property.
Warunya Thongrod
A month after the president of the Nong Plalai Sub-district Council was
caught digging up land surrounding a public irrigation canal for a
plantation owner, Banglamung officials have determined the farmer’s
property deed had mistakenly included public land.
District Chief Sakchai Taengho and Supatep Sukanjanaporn from S.R.
Plantation visited the Banglamung Land Office May 21 to inspect property
records for the 900-rai parcel in Moo 4. Senior surveyor Tawee Penhakan
and land office official Anupol Khomkhai showed them that S.R.’s deed
had indeed included public land.
Aerial photographs from the Chonburi Land Office showed that the area
where the S.R. Plantation was digging up soil was inside the boundaries
of the canal. Sakchai ordered the deed amended and Supatep said S.R.
Plantation will compensate the district for the property damage done.
The episode began April 21 when Rongpoh villagers complained that
someone was excavating the canal zone illegally. Sakchai arrived at the
scene to find a truck and backhoe from a company called Jetsermzup,
which is owned by Nong Plalai Sub-district Council President Banjet
Thimthong.
The 51-year-old president said his firm was hired by S.R. Plantation to
build a dam for farmers in the area.
