source: Bkk Post July 17 2008
PHUKET : Title deeds to more than 10,000 rai of land on the island may have been illegally issued six years ago and could be revoked.
An order to immediately examine the land documents was issued yesterday by Intarat Yodbangtoey, adviser to the natural resources and environment minister, during an inspection visit to Phuket.
He also warned would-be investors to beware of smooth-talking vendors who issue bogus titles to land they have no right to sell.
A recent case involves former provincial land registration official Tawatchai Anukul, who allegedly issued fake title deeds for 20 land development projects in 2002.
"The man has disappeared. We don't know whether he's still alive," Maj-Gen Intarat said before meeting Phuket governor Niran Kalayanamitr yesterday to discuss the issue.
The ministry will launch a full investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Forestry officials will be asked to determine if the blocks of land stated in the various title deeds are in forest areas.
Maj-Gen Intarat told Thai and foreign real estate investors to beware of being fooled into buying land in Phuket and ending up with fake title deeds.
Some gangs involved in the scams are masterminded by influential local figures, and there are a considerable number of them, he said.
"They have been heavy-handed when contacting and phoning [our officials], asking us to stop the inspection," Maj-Gen Intarat said.
"But I've never been intimidated."
The island, admired for its beautiful beaches and pleasant weather, attracts investors to build resorts and homestays and to develop new facilities.
But the land development boom has set off alarms, with environmental officials reporting more cases of illegal land acquisition.
This includes intensive occupation of land near Kathu waterfall, which poses a fresh threat to Phuket's water supply, and suspected encroachment on a national park at Koh Racha Yai, according to data being investigated by Maj-Gen Intarat.
Housing development in some hilly areas is also considered dubious because of a risk of landslides. Careless construction could also lead to tragedy if the island is hit by earthquakes, he added.
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