A resort in Nan was raided by authorities yesterday after it defied an order to cease its operations that were allegedly encroaching on a reserved forest area.
The raid was jointly conducted by Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan Phattarapongsin, commander of Nan Provincial Police, special task force, administrative officials, a reserved forest protection unit, forest resource management office 3, and the Royal Forest and Marine departments.
The raid took place at Star Wall Sapan resort in Tambon Dong Phaya of Bo Klue district, with a search warrant issued by Nan Provincial Court.
The resort was found to be defying an order to halt operations as it had 12 buildings covering 3 rai that encroached on Doi Phu Kha and Pha Daeng forests. However, the resort owner allegedly ignored the order and still operated the resort, offering prices between 3,000 and 10,000 baht per room on social media.
Celebrities were reportedly asked to promote the resort. It has also been alleged the resort falsely claimed public figures were shareholders in a bid to raise its creditability.
A source said the resort owners denied all charges and demanded to wait for someone they referred to as phu yai, a senior figure and lawyer. During the search, tourists were visiting the resort after booking rooms online. The search took more than two hours to finish as resort management refused to cooperate with authorities. Four suspects -- Chainarong Chumkaew, 32; Janyaphon Kerdsakun, 23; Kwan Khunpreksa, 34; and Wichai Aukkara, 25 -- were taken to Bo Klue police for legal proceedings.
Police also confiscated 11 items and pressed charges against the four for collusion in damaging the forest and other offences considered in breach of the National Reserved Forest Act 1964.
Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan said authorities have received complaints about substandard buildings and high room prices at some resorts in the Bo Klue area, which will be looked into, as well as forest encroachment.