Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan has ordered a probe into alleged land encroachment in Nakhon Ratchasima by former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith.
Gen Dapong said he was aware of Mr Tarit's alleged land encroachment in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district before taking up the post at the ministry. However, there were many tasks awaiting him at the ministry, not just the land case involving Mr Tarit.
The 2nd Army recently launched a fresh probe against the former DSI chief for allegedly acquiring a land plot illegally in Nakhon Ratchasima.
On Wednesday, Col Sommai Busaba, a member of the 2nd Army's legal team, led National Reform Council (NRC) member Prasarn Marukaphitak to inspect Mr Tarit's land in Pak Chong district.
Investigators examined land documents and found Mr Tarit's plot sits on part of the state-run Lam Takong self-help settlement project, which gave land to locals affected by the construction of Lam Takong dam in Sikhiu district more than 40 years ago.
Mr Tarit acquired the plot and was issued a Nor Kor 3 land ownership document when he worked as a prosecutor in Nakhon Ratchasima, an initial probe found.
Mr Tarit allegedly claimed that he worked as a farmer at the time, earning 80,000 baht a year, and that he qualified to own land under the settlement project intended for farmers, according to an investigation.
The army is investigating if Mr Tarit also owned adjacent areas which were not included in his land title documents.
Gen Dapong said he needs to find out if the case against Mr Tarit falls within the scope of his responsibilities before he can make a decision.
Everything must proceed under the law and agencies must not act on their own or based on public sentiment, he added.
The ministry would investigate the acquisition of all land in the area, not target anyone in particular and would find out whether the plots were illegally acquired or not.
Normally, politicians and influential people would dare not disclose themselves as owners of land plots which they knew were illegally acquired, said Gen Dapong. They opt to use nominees as owners on their behalf.
Meanwhile, Gen Dapong said a PM's Office regulation was issued on Wednesday to set up the National Land Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, to consider allocating land plots to the landless for cultivation.
The committee, comprising his ministry and other state agencies, would not issue land documents to those in the land allocation scheme as the issuing of land documents would not solve land encroachment.
He cited as an example the issuing of Sor Por Kor land reform certificates for the landless, which later led to a transfer of land documents to investors and the wealthy.
"If land documents were issued today, farmers could end up landless like they were before, after their occupation rights over the land were sold to others. We will change the method by carrying out [land allocation] to cooperatives, with villages being land owners.
"Sales of agricultural produce will be managed by the cooperatives. This will provide the greatest sustainable benefits to local people,'' said Gen Dapong.