KANCHANABURI: Police are gathering evidence to summon wealthy investors from Bangkok to acknowledge charges of land encroachment as authorities expand their investigation into cases of land grabbing.
Officials from Khao Laem National Park filed a complaint against eight people for 200 rai of land under the national park which was occupied by investors from Bangkok.
On Friday, the 200 rai of land was confiscated in a joint operation by security officials from the Internal Security Operations Command's (Isoc) 4th operation centre, officials from Khao Laem National Park, police and provincial officials.
The land in prime locations next to Vajiralongkorn dam in Khao Laem National Park was approved for farming use by poor villagers who had been living in a nearby forest before, and the transfer of tenure rights was only meant for their descendants.
However the head of Isoc's 4th operation centre told the media that the investigation found tenure rights actually belonged to Montri Mankornkanok and five others from his wealthy family which owns the SET-listed Asia Fiber Plc.
The Bangkok Post tried to contact Mr Montri for comment but could not reach him.
Two local villagers are suspected of helping the Bangkok investors gain the land tenure rights.
If found guilty, the eight suspects each face a jail term of four to 20 years and/or a fine of between 400,000 and 2 million baht for violating Section 19(1) of the 2019 national park law.
