UPDATE: Russian investor alleges B16 million land fraud as Phuket demolition begins

A Russian investor identified as Andrei says he lost B16 million in an alleged land-fraud scheme at Phuket’s Freedom Beach, where authorities began demolishing 22 unauthorised structures on 8 November 2026.

Andrei alleges that Parinthorn, known as “Sia Lek of Freedom Beach”, sold him state-owned national forest land while falsely presenting it as privately owned. His nearly completed two-storey pool villa was listed as item seven among the structures targeted for demolition.

Andrei had planned the property as a family home and a honeymoon gift. He was present during the demolition operation and appealed for a fair investigation and help recovering his family’s savings.

Officials target structures on forest reserve land

The structures were located on national forest reserve land in the Nak Kerd mountain range. A separate concrete staircase with 78 steps leading to the beach was also due to be removed, while the occupier of another structure offered to dismantle it independently.

Thai PBS World reported that officials from the Forest Department, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants and other relevant agencies used heavy machinery and a tractor to begin dismantling the illegal structures. It reported that about 200 officials and workers were involved.

Nation TV reported that about 500 officials and heavy machinery were deployed. The reports do not establish whether the figures cover different groups or whether one is a correction, so the personnel total remains unclear.

The operation was led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin and involved the Royal Forest Department, the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division and other agencies.

The Environment Ministry named the operation “Three-billion-baht checkmate: reclaiming Freedom Beach’s forest for the nation and the public”. Officials said work began after the required legal procedures for demolition orders had been completed, with notices displayed at the affected sites.

Investor questions open land advertising

Andrei said land sales and rentals around Freedom Beach had been advertised openly for years. He said signs along both sides of the road described the land as private and warned people not to enter without the owner’s permission.

He argued that the advertising, visible to tourists and prospective buyers, created the impression that ownership and transactions involving the land were lawful.

The Nation previously reported that Parinthorn and other suspects initially denied charges of jointly defrauding the public and entering false information into a computer system.

Andrei thanked the Thai government for its attention to the case and called for the facts to be examined thoroughly. He said the losses represented family savings accumulated over many years and expressed hope that those responsible would face legal action and that affected people would have a chance to recover some of their money.