DSI to probe ‘land grab’ on Chana estate

The Department of Special Investigation is planning to launch an investigation into claims of illegal land encroachment and expropriation related to the much-criticised Chana Industrial Estate in Songkhla.

DSI’s director-general, Korrawat Panprapakorn, said officials found indications of irregularities when it launched a fact-finding investigation into a land dispute complaint that had been filed by local villagers.

In their complaint, Pol Lt Gen Korrawat said, the villagers asked the DSI to review a request for land title certificates of several plots of land in tambons Taling Chan, Nathan and Sakom, filed by a company suspected to be acting on behalf of the Chana Industrial Estate project.

The villagers said the land plots claimed by the company overlap their land, which they have occupied for decades and as such, as have legal rights over, the DSI director-general explained to the press.

Pol Lt Gen Korrawat said while looking into the villagers’ complaint, DSI officials instead found signs of encroachment on over 1,000 rai of protected mangrove forests and public land.

“Land ownership certificates were also issued for 700 rai of mangrove forests,” said the DSI director-general.

He said the land plots in question have been designated as part of the Chana Industrial Estate, so DSI investigators are gathering further evidence as they prepare to take up the case.

According to the DSI chief, the probe also found that land ownership documents issued to the company in question overlap with some 100 rai of land occupied by local residents.