The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is to summon a company contracted to reforest a 4,200-rai plot of land in Phetchaburi that turned out to already be an unspoilt forested area.
In 2011, the company in question was awarded a 15-million-baht contract to reforest a swath of land in Kaeng Krachan National Park.
Pol Capt Piya Raksakul, director of the DSI's Bureau of Special Case Management, said officers have been assigned to determine whether the area in question needed to be replanted.
Officers will also check whether areas that were supposed to be reforested can be easily accessed, as the company claimed that the mountainous terrain meant workers had to spend a lot of time reaching the site with their equipment and materials, he said.
The case came to light after Samak Donnapi, former director of the National Park Office, lodged a complaint with DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang in October, asking him to look into some irregularities in the project.
According to Mr Samak, park authorities had requested 15.9 million baht to fund the reforestation as a part of a project to mark the 84th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
However, the area earmarked did not need to be reforested, he said.
In his complaint, Mr Samak cited an aerial image of the site taken from the Google Maps application in 2011.
"The area is actually virgin forest surrounded by mountains, which is normally reachable after a three-day trek, Mr Samak said.
Karen people living in a community near the reforestation site were not aware of anyone being hired to carry materials to the site, he said.
Mr Samak also asked the agency to determine whether there are influential figures behind the project and whether the bidding process was rigged.
