Although he lost the case Tossaporn Thepabutr,Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr's husband, said he was happy to end the “nightmare” of the litigation.

BANGKOK: (The Nation, Gazette) The Supreme Court June 7 upheld an Appeals Court ruling that ordered Tossaporn Thepabutr and his associates to vacate 98 rai of land in part of the Nakkerd Hills, near the Kata Viewpoint.

The Supreme Court read its verdict on the lawsuit between the Provincial Land Reform Office (PPLRO) and Tossaporn, husband of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President and former Democrat Party MP Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr.

Tossaporn claimed the land was given to him in 1989 by landlord Charan Tungku, who had owned it since 1956, before the SorPorKor land reform program came into effect in 1975 and could thus not be driven off the land.

However, the Appeals Court ruled there was no recorded legal ownership of the land by Charan, so the transfer to Tossaporn was not legitimate.

The Supreme Court upheld an Appeals Court’s ruling ordering Tossaporn to vacate the land because he had no right to it.

The land had been included in the SorPorKor land reform program, intended to provide agricultural land for poor farmers to make a living.

Tossaporn, found to have shares in companies and personal wealth totaling more than 55 million baht, failed to qualify, the Appeals Court ruled.

The SorPorKor program in Phuket began in November 1994, when then-Agriculture Minister Suthep Thaugsuban ceded title deeds to 592 plots, including land near the Kata Viewpoint, Kamala and other parts of the Nakkerd Hills, to 489 farmers.

It was later found that members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients.

The scandal, which for months was covered as front page news in the Thai daily newspaper Thai Rath, eventually led to the collapse of the coalition government led by Chuan Leekpai, Democrat party leader at the time.

In a brief press release after the ruling, Tossaporn wrote that he accepted the verdict and welcomed the end to what he called a “12-year nightmare”.
From its inception the real target of the case was his wife, he wrote.

Noting that all criminal charges had been dropped and that the Phuket Provincial Court originally ruled that he had a valid claim to the land, he said that all Phuket people were well aware of the circumstances behind the case.

Of the remaining 10 cases yet to be ruled upon by the Supreme Court, the next is that of Charoen Thawornworngwong, who claims to own four plots totaling 16 rai, also in the Nakkerd Hills in Karon.

Similarly, the Phuket Appeals Court in early 2005 overturned a decision by the Phuket Provincial Court allowing K. Charoen to own the land, which was also designated as SorPorKor land by the PPLRO.

In overturning the lower court verdict, the Appeals Court ruled that K. Charoen was neither poor nor a farmer, and therefore ordered him and his associates to vacate the land immediately.

K. Charoen, whose family owns the Thavorn hotel chain, manages the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel in Phuket City.

Charoen to own the land, which was also designated as SorPorKor land by the PPLRO.

In overturning the lower court verdict, the Appeals Court ruled that K. Charoen was neither poor nor a farmer, and therefore ordered him and his associates to vacate the land immediately.

CHALONG: After two months on the run wanted for the shooting murder of Karon restaurateur Mala Peng-iam, Suban Pon-iamsaen handed himself in to Chalong Police Station on June 5. A reward of 100,000 baht had been offered for information leading to his capture.

About 7 pm March 27, Mala, who owned Mala Seafood restaurant, was shot three times in the face and once in the chest with a .38 caliber pistol. Police also found a bullet hole in the kitchen wall from a shot that had missed its mark.

At the time of the shooting, eyewitnesses reported that Suban had calmly walked into the restaurant kitchen and shot Mala. After the shooting, Suban was seen leaving the scene in his white Toyota sedan.

Mala, 52, and Suban, 40, were distant relatives who owned neighboring restaurants on the Karon Beach road. However, they were known to argue often, including over one of them wanting to have a karaoke machine, but the other disputing that it would be too noisy.

Pol Lt Col Sirisak Wasasiri, deputy superintendent of Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette that Suban arrived at Chalong Police Station about 8 pm.

“Suban arrived with a relative and handed himself in to police, but he declined to say where he had been hiding. He said that he would reveal that only in court,” Lt Col Sirisak said.

Suban was released after the relative posted 200,000-baht bail, he added.
A date has yet to be set for Suban to appear in court.

PHUKET: Gambling remains Phuket’s top illegal pastime with 306 arrests made from May 1 to May 30, according to statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.

There were 108 people arrested in drug-related cases, of which 49 involved ya bah (methamphetamine): three for importing, five for selling, 26 for possession with intent to sell, 13 for possession and two for use. A total of 6,807.5 pills were seized.

Sixteen people were arrested for inhalant abuse and 22 for possession or use of cannabis, with 18.2 grams confiscated. There were seven arrests for possession of krathom (an indigenous Thai plant that acts as a mild stimulant) with 66 leaves confiscated.

Nine people were arrested for possession of “ice” (crystal methamphetamine) with 17.5 grams seized, three for possession of ya E (Ecstasy) with 36 pills seized, and another two for possession of cocaine, with 570 grams seized.

There were 88 arrests for prostitution and 109 cases of theft reported, including theft of 10 motorcycles and five cars, with arrests made in 52 of the cases.

Three murders and three attempted murders were reported during the period, with one arrest made for each. There were 19 reports of assault with 10 arrests made and one report of rape.

Twenty-three people were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and two people were arrested for possession or distribution of pornography.

ACID ATTACK:
Mother, daughter charged in Kamala

KAMALA: A mother and daughter were charged with throwing acid on a young woman in her room on June 8. Police believe the attack was inspired by jealousy, after the pair learned the woman was having an affair with the mother’s husband.

Investigation Inspector Pol Lt Col Monsak Srisuwan told the Gazette that one of the young woman’s neighbors called Kamala Police about 5 pm to report people fighting at a home at Baan Hua Kuan in Kamala.

Lt Col Monsak and fellow officers arrived to find Bang-Orn Hempo, 23, rolling on the floor crying in pain from acid that had been thrown on her.

Her clothes and belongings were strewn around the room; scorch marks on the ceramic tile floor demonstrated the caustic effect of the liquid used in the attack.

Bang-Orn was rushed to Patong Hospital, where she was treated for severe burns to her arms and chest and minor burns to her neck and face.
She was later transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Police investigation revealed that two women were also treated for acid burns at Patong Hospital not long after the attack was reported. They were arrested later that night while riding a motorcycle in Cherng Talay.

“They are Mayuree Damsuk, 37, and Chutima Damsuk, 16, the wife and daughter of Patchavuth Damsuk, 37,” Lt Col Monsak said.

“The two suspects have confessed to the charges. The motive was jealousy, as Mayuree’s husband had been having a secret affair with Bang-Orn for two years.

“We have a bottle of the same acid that they used. It is much stronger than rubber acid [commonly used in such attacks],” he added.

Mayuree and Chutima were charged with causing bodily harm and trespassing on private property, Lt Col Monsak said.

“We will continue our investigation, but we must wait until Bang-Orn is feeling better before questioning her,” he said.

By Somprach Saowakhon

CHERNG TALAY: Two teenage fishermen from Bang Tao were gunned down while riding their motorbikes from Heroines’ Monument to Cherng Talay early on June 10.

Both died from their injuries.

Deputy Investigation Inspector Pol Capt Sanit Nu-Kong of Thalang Police told the Gazette, that police received a report that the men had been shot about 1:25 am.

Officers arrived at the scene, near Baan Manik, to find the two men lying on the ground near their fallen motorcycles.

“Virat Je-So,18, originally from Krabi, was dead at the scene. He had been shot once in the middle of the back, once in the left calf and once in his right hip,” Capt Sanit said, adding that a .38 caliber bullet casing was found near the body.

Likit To-Pulad, 19, originally from Samui, also had been shot three times: once in the chest and twice in his right arm, Capt Sanit added. He was rushed to Thalang Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Capt Sanit told the Gazette that a friend of the two deceased was riding behind the pair when they were attacked.

“He told me that two motorcycles with about fours guys rode up beside them and shot his friends before speeding off toward Bang Tao.

“However, he cannot remember their faces,” he added.

“We are not sure whether or not the attack was related to their work. We are investigating whether the two men had any enemies,” Capt Sanit said.
“The two men had grown up in Bang Tao, and have worked as fishermen in the area for a long time.”.