Deputy minister says titles consistent with law
Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee denied allegations by a Move ahead Party (MFP) MP that he illegally issued land deeds to his cronies in the expense of inhabitants.
Throughout the censure debate against the government yesterday, Prasertpong Sornnuwat, an MFP MP, accused Mister Niphon of malfeasance and aiding plus abetting offences that harmed state companies and the public.
He mentioned there were irregularities within the Land Department’s task to issue name deeds.
He alleged the deeds were given in order to businessmen instead of the meant recipients, which goes against the purpose of the project which is meant to grant people property ownership to reduce inequality in landholding.
For example , Mister Prasertpong said business groups were granted land deeds covering a forest book on Koh Nui Nok island within Krabi.
There is no evidence of individuals settling down there, but efforts were made to fabricate evidence to deceive people that the particular land was utilized in line with the project’s objective, he mentioned. Title deeds covering 20 land and building plots on Koh Yao Yai in Phangnga were also granted to a single businessman, Mr Prasertpong mentioned.
He or she said deeds covering 27 land plots near Na Tai beach in Phangnga were also released to major business men from other provinces, not really residents. Some are hotel owners within Phuket, some run property businesses in Phuket, while others run construction businesses, Mr Prasertpong claimed. He or she also claimed that a person who was granted a land deed under the project has been linked with a political party.
“I have an audio clip which is evidence that the recipient of the particular deed is a nominee holding the property deed on behalf of an individual expected to be an election candidate in Phangnga, who has the assistance of the deputy interior minister, ” Mr Prasertpong said.
He furthermore claimed that a property deed was given to the sister of a previous attorney-general — a reference to Mr Niphon’s nonfeasance case dating back to when this individual served as head of the Songkhla provincial administrative organisation (PAO) in 2013.
In response, Mr Niphon, who also serves as deputy head of the Democrat Party, called Mr Prasert’s accusations a jumble of false info, saying he would not know anyone installing the description provided by the opposition MEGAPIXEL.
About the land deeds, the particular minister said this individual laid down an insurance policy forbidding the Property Department from giving any title actions covering state land. But if the land does not belong to the state and individuals make use of it in line with the law, the department can issue name deeds to them, this individual said.