SARABURI, 7 August 2014 – Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and Forest Protection and Fire Control officials yesterday inspected pieces of public land allegedly encroached on and sold by private investors in Saraburi Province.
Led by Preeyachit, the Secretary-General of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, and Mangkon Mieanmit, the Director of the Saraburi Forest Protection and Fire Control Division, officials inspected 18 vacation homes and other buildings, valued at over 100 million baht, in Muak Lek District, Saraburi Province, which have allegedly been built in a national forest.
Mangkon revealed that the 18 structures are most certainly located in a national forest, although some of the property borders land with agricultural use permits. According to him, most of the land in the area is part of the national forests. He added that private investors have encroached on the land and are selling it at 1 to 1.5 million baht per rai.
Prayong said that, if state officials were found to have been involved in encroachment on national forests, they would definitely face tough legal action. He urged officials to avoid cronyism and to strictly comply with the law.
