NACC to refer Kamala land-title case for prosecution after 15 years

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will refer a case involving two disputed land title deeds in Kamala, Phuket, to the Attorney General after finding grounds for criminal liability against a former Phuket provincial land officer and 10 other people.

The NACC announced its decision on 21 September 2026. It also said it would notify the Department of Lands to consider revoking Title Deeds No. 14262 and 14263 under Section 61 of the Land Code.

The deeds were issued to Jarin Eka on 4 August 2011 and cover a combined 15 rai, 3 ngan and 14.1 square wah. The case began when Jarin applied on 1 February 2010 to obtain title for land using SorKor 1 No. 124, a land-possession notification covering 7 rai and 2 ngan in Moo 2, Kamala.

According to the NACC, its investigation found that the people identified as adjoining landholders during the survey were neither heirs nor continuous possessors of the plots described in the SorKor 1 document. The surveyed area measured 16 rai, 2 ngan and 60.3 square wah — an increase of 9 rai and 60.3 square wah, or about 122%, from the original record.

A land verification committee initially found that the surveyed land was inside the Kamala Hills National Forest Reserve and proposed a special review. A review committee chaired by then Phuket Provincial Land Officer Phuchit Pitdam concluded that the difference could be explained by different surveying and calculation methods, and recommended issuing the title deeds. Phuchit subsequently signed them.

The NACC reached a different conclusion, saying neither plot matched the boundaries in SorKor 1 No. 124. The document described a rice paddy on the northern boundary, while the actual land was on a hillside. The NACC also said the plots matched land for which Jarin’s father had previously applied to the Phuket Agricultural Land Reform Office for permission to use as a rubber plantation without formal title documents.

The commission said SorKor 1 No. 124 concerned different land and had been used to seek title for the two plots, causing damage to the state. The practice is known in Phuket’s land history as a “flying SorKor 1”.

The NACC found Phuchit had grounds for criminal liability under Sections 151 and 157 of the Criminal Code and relevant NACC legislation, as well as grounds for gross disciplinary misconduct. It said the 10 other people included land officials involved in the process and Jarin, whom it accused of aiding and abetting state officials. The officials were not named.

Proceedings against former Kamala subdistrict head Santi Sariya were suspended after a court declared him legally incompetent to stand trial and unable to defend himself. The NACC said the case file, evidence and ruling would be sent to the Attorney General and that the case would also be referred for disciplinary action.