PUBLISHED: 30 Aug 2024 at 04: 00
SURAT THANI: Despite efforts to make Koh Rap a national park area, police from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD ) of the Central Investigation Bureau have been looking into the issuance of 33 title deeds covering a total of 400 ray on the island.
The officers, along with officers from many agencies, inspected property ownership documents from restaurants, hotels, and hospitality business operators on the island on Wednesday to establish whether their name deeds were true.
Some company owners signed leases that gave them the right to lease the property out for three years for 2,000 ringgit each month. Those arrangements can also be renewed.
The investigation was started as Koh Rap is located in a region preparing to become designated as Helmet Khanom-Mu Koh Thale Tai National Park, according to Pol Col Somsak Niamlek, the acting head of the Crime Suppression Division 5. In recent years, subject deeds were issued for 33 storylines on the island, covering more than 400 ray. He claimed that the facts are being investigated to check the facts.
We need all the evidence, including property ownership documents or Sol Kor 1, and property occupation papers or Nor Sol 3, to determine whether the issuing of title deeds was legitimate or not. We will also use underwater photos from each time, going back to 1955 until the day each name deed was issued”, he said.
Koh Rab is accessible from Khanom area in Nakhon Si Thammarat off Koh Samui in Surat Thani, about eight kilometers from the island. Helmet Khanom-Mu Koh Thale Tai National Park in Nakhon Si Thammarat is scheduled to include it.
On Aug 6, Permsak Kongkaew, producer of Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Conservation Area Management Office 5, said his team was looking into the matter. If any title activities were issued wrong, the property may be seized, the transgressions revoked, and the perpetrators charged, he said.
Wimolmat Nuiphakdee, head of Hat Khanom-Mu Koh Thale Tai National Park, said 34 years have passed, but the place has still not been publicly designated as part of the regional area. At its release, the plaza covered 197, 614 ray.
” Over 34 years, 71, 797 rai of the prepared land has been lost due to overlapping]contested ] areas”, she said.
Even if it is a hard and difficult task to handle, we will work very hard to find a way to protect the remaining area.