Shinawatra's ownership of golf club revoked, but with way out
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Shinawatra's ownership of golf club revoked, but with way out

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The Alpine golf course in Pathum Thani province.
The Alpine golf course in Pathum Thani province.

A deputy permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry has ordered the Department of Lands to revoke owners' titles to the Alpine Golf and Sports Club and adjacent residences in Pathum Thani province.

Media reports on Monday quoted sources as saying that Chamnanwit Terat, deputy permanent secretary for interior who supervises the department, signed an order on Thursday last week for the department to revoke ownership titles to the Alpine Golf and Sports Club and an adjacent residential complex in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani,  because the land belonged to a Buddhist temple and therefore could not be sold.

After revocation, land ownership will return to Wat Thammikaram Worawihan, a temple in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The management of the temple could then lease the land back to the present occupants and the Department of Lands (DoL) could compensate the occupants, according to the sources.

Meanwhile, the DoL has expressed no concern about the possibility of paying up to 7.7 billion baht in compensation after the Interior Ministry ordered the revocation of the ownership titles.

DoL director-general Pornpoth Penpas said the department will act based on facts and court rulings if those affected by the revocation order decide to file lawsuits. Any legal process will also likely take years due to the complexity of the case.

The 924 rai of land in Klong Luang district of Pathum Thani was donated by a widow, Noem Chamnanchartsakda, to Wat Thammikaram Worawihan in 1971.

After her death, the Maha­mongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation was appointed executor of Noem’s estate. The foundation sold the land to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who took office on Aug 18, 2024, used to hold 22.41 million shares in Alpine Golf and Sports Club Co. However, she had transferred those shares to her mother, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, as of Sept 4 last year, according to an Isra News report.

A record of shareholders dated Sept 4 shows Khunying Potjaman, Panthongtae Shinawatra and Pinthongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong hold 29.88 million, 22.42 million and 22.41 million shares in the company, respectively.

Former prime minster Thaksin Shinawatra, the father of Ms Paetongtarn, said on Monday that Alpine is open to any outcome and he has no issues with what to come.

"We don't know how it turns out, but Alpine is prepared for every scenario. We obtained the land in good faith and acquired it second hand. Some wrongfully accuse us of cheating the temple. We've nothing to do with any wrongdoing," he said.

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