A senior surveyor at the Nakhon Ratchasima agricultural land reform office has been transferred to an inactive post on suspicion of illegally using her husband’s name to obtain a title deed to 130 rai of agricultural reform land.
The Agricultural Land Reform Office issued an order on Wednesday moving Pornthawee Sutantirat to its head office.
An investigation has also been set up to look into Ms Pornthawee's alleged encroachment on agricultural reform land and obtaining of title deeds through illegal means. Other land officials involved in the unlawful issuing of land documents will also be investigated.
The move came after a special investigation team from the Justice Ministry found that Ms Pornthawee, a land surveyor, had used a Sor Khor 1 paper, a land occupation document, for land near the entrance of Khao Yai National Park in Pak Chong district to apply for a title deed for more than 155 rai in her husband’s name. At least 130 rai of the land in the title deed was agricultural reform land.
Chamnarn Klinchan, head of the Nakhon Ratchasima land reform office, on Thursday confirmed that Ms Pornthawee had received the transfer order and would report to the land reform head office on May 6.
She went into her office on Thursday to hand over her assignments to other officials.
Pol Maj Gen Thanet Sunthornsuk, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 3, said authorities had found three houses illegally built on seven rai of agricultural reform land in the northeastern province.
House owner Pakhamon Rueksirikul had reported to police on Wednesday and showed a Por Thor Bor 5 paper, a document showing tax payments for the land, to the officers.
Pol Maj Gen Thanet said police would investigate a possible link between Ms Pakkamon and Ms Pornthawee.
Agricultural Land Reform secretary-general Sansern Ajjutamanas said he has set up a special team to survey agricultural land reform areas in Pak Chong after an initial invstigation found more than 40,000 out of 300,000 rai of land in the district designated for agricultural reform had been illegally encroached.
Mr Sansern said he would dismiss Ms Pornthawee from the service if she was found guilty of using her husband’s name to obtain title deeds for agricultural reform land, Post Today reported on Thursday.