A former director of an office responsible for surveying and issuing land documents was arrested on Thursday for illegally issuing title deeds for thousands of rai of public land in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Officials from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) police apprehended Arun Sahathampakorn, who was wanted on an arrest warrant for malfeasance in violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code, at a house in tambon Tha Ang in Chok Chai district of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Mr Arun, 71, is accused of illegally issuing title deeds for public land to business operators when he headed the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial land adjudication centre. The land included over 2,000 rai in Khao Yai of Pak Chong district and economic areas in several districts.
During questioning, the suspect denied the charges, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
The suspect had evaded arrest for several years and was caught just two months before the statute of limitations in the case expired, said Pol Lt Col Siripong Sritula, director of the PACC area 2 office.
Kritsakorn Sanitsakdee, director of the PACC area 1 office, said Mr Arun had used Sor Khor 1 land occupation documents issued for plots in Pak Thong Chai district to be issued for title deeds for plots in other districts.
The PACC launched its investigation into the irregularities in 2017. It found Mr Arun and four others were involved in illegally issuing title deeds for 80 plots covering more than 2,000 rai, said Mr Kritsakorn.
Arrest warrants were issued for five suspects. One has since died and three others remain at large following the arrest of Mr Arun.
