A second summons will be issued for a police colonel accused in the theft and sale of soil from land designated for agricultural reform in Nakhon Ratchasima province that caused an estimated 10 billion baht damage to the land.
Pol Col Wanat Atthakawin, deputy chief of Nakhon Ratchasima police said on Tuesday the Phor Klang police station on Oct 14 issued a summons for Pol Col Kuea Suksompian to report for questioning over the illegal excavation of soil from the land.
Pol Col Kuea is the occupant of one of the agricultural land reform plots in tambon Chai Mongkhol in Muang district.
He failed to show up with the seven-day deadline that expired on Monday.
The deputy Nakhon Ratchasima police chief, a member of the provincial committee on the illegal trade in soil, said he had already briefed his commander and sought approval to issue a second summons.
If Pol Col Kuea again fails to appear a warrant for his arrest would be issued immediately, said Pol Col Wanat.
The officer is accused of colluding with a businessman in the illegal excavation and sale of soil from the agricultural reform land,
Police investigators have questioned 15 witnesses, Pol Col Wanat said. Their testimony was useful as they gave information pointing to the drivers hired by the businessman to drive the trucks taking the soil out of the area.
Police were now trying to locate those truck drivers, said Pol Col Wanat. If they implicate others involved in this illegal soil trading, warrants would be issued immediately for their arrest.
Earlier, the local Agricultural Land Reform office lodged a legal complaint with local police against people involved in the theft and sale of the soil following raids on three commercial excavation sites on Sept 29.
The raids were led by a military force from the 2nd Army. It was revealed that as much as 300 rai of agricultural reform land had been dug up by the soil thieves, causing estimated losses worth 10 billion baht to the state.