PUBLISHED: 27 Nov 2024 at 04: 48
Due to the fact that authorities have discovered the dying improperly ran businesses and owned luxury villas via nominees, Nutwalai Pupongta, the trusted housekeeper of a French woman who committed murder in Koh Samui on April 29, may not be able to gain 100 million ringgit in assets from her previous company.
Following a seven-month-long research into matters involving the death of 59-year-old Catherine Delacote, officials have filed claims against several companies and people.
Two businesses, GVNE Co Ltd and Maxikate Co Ltd, have been linked to the research for acting as Delacote’s candidate companies in an illegal acquisition of plots of land in Thailand. These activities go against Thailand’s laws prohibiting foreigners from acquiring area.
Thongsai Katisuk, 50, and Ratchaprapa Soreda, 36, both of whom are accused of helping Delacote obtain the property through deceptive means, including making false statements to authorities and holding stocks on behalf of a international national in violation of the law, were also charged.
The research revealed that Delacote’s residence and other attributes were owned by her own nominees.
Officials will look into whether a law firm helped to form these businesses, and whether or not they are connected to this.
The situation has sparked new discussions in Thailand about who owns unusual land, especially in tourist spots like Koh Samui. To stop abuse and protect national interests, the Tourism Association of Koh Samui has urged stricter protection of property regulations.
Prior to her death, Delacote owned five luxurious rental properties in Koh Samui, which were declared as death.
Before her death, she apparently granted 100-million-baht worth of assets to Ms Nutwalai, who claimed that the assets included a palace she lived in at the time of her employer’s dying, a two-rai area story near the villa, cash, a car and other assets.
But, questions were raised about the validity of property transactions involving foreigners because of the legal irregularities surrounding her house.
The investigation into the matter is continuing, according to the Surat Thani Provincial Officers and related organizations.