NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A kaman in Bua Yai district of this northeastern province has been accused of dredging large quantities of soil from a public pond to use on his farm.
The soil had been intended for use at a local school and temple, they say.
The accused sub-district leader, whose name was not released, has been asked to testify on Tuesday before an investigative panel set up by district authorities.
Paiwan Raksachart, chief of Bua Yai district, said on Saturday that she had assigned an assistant district chief to set up the panel. If it finds grounds to support the allegations, drastic action would be taken against the local leader, she said.
On Friday, a group of 80 villagers from Don Suatao village in tambon Bua Yai lodged a complaint with the Damrongtham centre in Bua Yai district, accusing the kamnan of taking soil dug from a public pond to fill up a fish pond on his land. About 100 truckloads had ben carried away, they said.
Sompong Changsarn, 46, a member of Bua Yai tambon administration organisation, said it was agreed during a village meeting that soil dug from the pond in Don Suatao would be used to fill up land at a temple and school. However, the kamnan took the soil to fill up his fish pond, which was wrong, said Mr Sompong.
After his group lodged the complaint with the district-level Damrongtham centre, the accused leader threatened to file suits against them, he said.
His group planned to seek justice from the provincial governor, he added.
