Officials at the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) are investigating two plots of land inside the Thap Kwang-Muak Lek national forest reserve in Saraburi province, allegedly occupied by well-known song writer and singer Yuenyong Opakul, aka “Aed Carabao”.
Director of the PACC’s Region 1 Office, Thanawat Sanitsakdee, accompanied by political activist Veera Somkwamkid, led PACC officials to the forest reserve to probe Yuenyong’s ownership claim of two land plots, covering a total area of 5.6 hectares, to determine whether they encroach on the forest reserves.
Veera told the media that he received a complaint from villagers last month, claiming that they could not get into the forest reserves, to search for forest produce, because it was blocked by steel fencing, indicating that the land is privately owned.
He said he asked the PACC to investigate the two plots and whether the issuance of the “nor sor 3 kor” land certificate is legal, adding that he feels that the issuance of the certificate on March 6th, 1992, just one year after the issuance of the “nor sor 1” certificate was unusually fast.
Veera also noted that the original land certificate was for 2.56 hectares, but the amount of land has been increased to 5.6 hectares.
The officials also found evidence of rock blasting on the limestone mountain in the forest and a dirt road has been built leading to the two plots of lands.
Yuenyong was not available for comment.
