Three arrested over Khao Daeng protected land encroachment in Rawai
Officials arrested three people during a Thursday inspection of protected public land in Khao Daeng, Rawai, where they were allegedly clearing and dividing the area into plots.
Three people were arrested on Thursday after officials found them clearing and occupying protected public land in Khao Daeng, Rawai, according to the Mueang District Office.
The arrests were made during a coordinated inspection at about 12:30pm on July 2 by officials from the Mueang District Office, Rawai Municipality, Chalong Police and the Phuket Forest Protection Unit.
The operation was carried out under the direction of Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsom, Deputy Governor Khetarat Chansilp, Phuket City District Chief Siwat Rawangkul and Rawai Mayor Thames Kraithat.
Officials inspected a seven-rai plot of public land covered by Land Title Deed No. 29883, known as the Khao Daeng Livestock Reserve, in Moo 1, Rawai. The district office said officers found the three suspects clearing the land and dividing it into separate plots by installing concrete posts and stringing ropes.
All three were arrested at the scene and handed over to investigators at Chalong Police Station for legal action. Authorities did not identify the suspects.
Officials said the suspects face charges under the Land Code for unlawfully entering and occupying state land and damaging natural resources without permission, as well as offences under the Forestry Act for clearing and occupying forest land without authorisation.
The latest arrests came just over two months after authorities said criminal proceedings had already begun against suspects linked to earlier encroachment on the same protected area.
In April, officials found that rocks and soil had been used to level protected land to create an access road, with heavy machinery operating within the Khao Daeng Protected Forest Area next to private land. At that time, Chalong Police Chief Pol Col Surasak Jaidee said Rawai Municipality had filed a complaint and charges had already been laid, though police did not identify those involved.
Officials also ordered those responsible in the earlier case to remove rocks, machinery and other structures and restore the land to its original condition.
The Khao Daeng dispute has become one of Phuket’s highest-profile public land protection cases. The issue drew wider attention in November last year when Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee urged provincial authorities to investigate claims that protected forest land near Laem Phromthep was being prepared for private development.
Following inspections, officials confirmed evidence of encroachment, while Rawai Municipality ordered construction work halted and said legal action would follow.
In announcing Thursday’s arrests, the Mueang District Office said enforcement against encroachment on public land and forest areas would continue under the governor’s directive. Officials warned that inspections would continue and that anyone found illegally occupying protected land would face prosecution.
