Palang Pracharath Party MP for Bangkok Jira Jenjaka has asked the Department of Special Investigation to examine alleged irregularities in the issuance of a land ownership document for a condominium project in Phuket.
Mr Sira on Thursday submitted evidence to the DSI about the issuing of a Nor Sor 3 Kor land ownership document for about 17 rai of land in Karon district of the island province.
Pol Lt Col Kornwat Panpraparkorn, deputy chief of the DSI, said Pol Maj Woranan Srilam, of special cases, would handle the matter.
The ruling party MP said he received a complaint from Phuket residents living near the condominium project about landslides and tap water flowing from the construction site onto their land.
He had visited the area to look into whether the land ownership document was legally issued, who was involved in issuing it, and whether the condominium developer had obtained permission.
His initial finding was that a group of influential people were involved in the project and that local officials dared not to take action, Mr Sira said.
After the project grabbed news headlines, Karon municipality had ordered the suspension of construction, he said.
He learned that a lawyer had asked the project developer to get around legal aspects so the interior design work could go head. This was a violation of the municipal regulations and the lower administrative court had revoked the Nor Sor 3 Kor document, said Mr Sira.
He was confident there was enough evidence to charge someone with an imprisonable offence.
Mr Sira also admitted he had come under fire for scolding a police officer in Phuket after a video clip featuring the incident went viral online.
“I intended that the clip draw public attention to this forest area. I feel sorry for what happened on the clip, and want to apologise for making a loud noise," he said.
"But my real intention is to reclaim the forest land. This issue is not just an ordinary problem, but a disaster. I consulted the Palang Pracharath MP in this constituency and we agree to work together. I assure you that my inspection has no conflict of interest. I already have profits enough to last me the rest of my life,’’ Mr Sira said.
Pol Lt Col Kornwat said DSI investigators would consider whether to accept the matter as a special case,. For offences against forest reserves to be treated as a special case, there must be damage of at least 100 million baht, or encroachment of more than 100 rai of forest land, the DSI deputy chief said.