Soonthorn charged after surrendering to police
Soonthorn Vilawan, the father of Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Vilawan, was arraigned in court for illegally occupying land in Khao Yai National Park after surrendering to the police yesterday morning.
Mr Soonthorn, 83, was elected chairman of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation on Dec 20, 2020. His daughter has already been charged in the same case.
He was an eight-time MP for Prachin Buri and served as deputy Public Health Minister during the Chavalit Yongchaiyudh administration, which lasted from November 1996-November 1997.
He surrendered to Muang Rayong police and was handed over to the Region 2 office of the Anti-Corruption Commission, headed by director-general Phichit Juthaprachakul.
When Mr Soonthorn arrived, public prosecutors immediately took him to court, where he was charged with violating Sections 86 and 151 of the Criminal Code and the Land Code. The court accepted the suit and set the first hearing for Aug 5.
The court allowed him bail on the condition he must not leave the country, after he placed 600,000 baht as surety.
Mr Soonthorn, his daughter Kanokwan and eight other people are accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of illegally occupying about 150 rai of land in Khao Yai National Park in Prachin Buri.
Ms Kanokwan reported to the OAG on June 10 to hear the charges.
She was immediately released on bail with 300,000-baht cash and land title deeds as surety.
Her father, however, failed to show up, prompting a police search for him at five locations in Prachin Buri after a court issued a warrant for his arrest.
The OAG decided to indict the deputy education minister and the nine others accused of land encroachment on June 7 on the recommendation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.