Seventy-nine of the staff at the Khao Laem Ya-Samet National Park in Rayong province have been transferred pending an investigation into alleged demands of kickbacks from business operators in the park, according to reports.
The mass transfer order was signed on Tuesday by Yu Senatham, director of the Si Racha-based 2nd Conservation Administration Office of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.
The 79 included the assistant chief, administrative officials, forest rangers and permanent and temporary employees of the park. They had been re-assigned separately to the 2nd Conservation Administration Office and other national parks in the areas including the Khao Chamao-Khaowong park in Rayong and Khao Khitchakut and Nam Tok Phliew parks in Chanthaburi.
Thanya Netithammakul, director-general of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, said he had instructed Mr Yu to transfer the 79 officials and set up a fact-finding committee to investigate after complaints were sent to him and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat.
In the complaints, a number of park officials were accused of demanding kickbacks from business operators in the national park.
The investigation was to be completed and the result sent to him by the end of September, Mr Thanya said, adding the transfers were made to avoid discrimination.
The mass transfer followed the removal of Thanit Chanthadet as chief of the park to an inactive duty at the 2nd Conservation Office. Mr Thanit has been replaced by Prayoon Pongpan, a senior forestry official at the 12th Conservation Administration Office in Nakhon Sawan.
Mr Thanya said those who were transferred would be replaced by officials from other national parks under the same jurisdiction -- the 2nd Conservation Administration Office.