Land Office Eyes False Report Claim in Temple Trespass Case
Police are investigating a temple trespass incident in Khon Kaen where a 62-year-old woman and others blocked temple entrances on August 10. The Land Office now suspects heirs filing for a replacement deed may have made a false report, as t
On August 13, Major Yoswat Kaewsubthanynich, superintendent of Khon Kaen City Police Station, updated progress on summonings issued to Pa Da, a 62-year-old woman named Chommani, to face charges of trespassing. Investigators reviewed video clips recorded by citizens showing a group blocking the entrance and exits of Wat Pa Adulayaram in Khon Kaen Municipality on August 10. Evidence from the video, combined with witness testimony gathered during the investigation, confirms that Pa Da was among those involved in the incident.
Major Yoswat noted that although Pa Da did not enter the temple grounds herself, her participation clearly constituted interference with the temple's property rights. Police have also identified approximately 5–6 other individuals involved, along with the source of a cement truck and the person who brought pipes to the site. These individuals will receive summonses for questioning and to hear the charges against them.
Meanwhile, Pongsuwat Chaidtontuek, the Khon Kaen Provincial Land Officer, addressed claims that heirs had filed for a replacement title deed, suggesting the facts may indicate a false report. He explained that whether guilt applies depends on the intent of the applicants and the findings of investigators. The heirs managing the estate on behalf of Buakai claimed the title deed was lost and presented two witnesses to confirm this, attaching a police report as supporting documentation. However, they later indicated during a follow-up that the deed was actually in the abbot's possession, contradicting their original statement.
"If that is the case, it constitutes a false report because statements were given to the land official. By authority, we must file a false report case against the land officer. Whether there is guilt depends on further investigation. If Buakai genuinely believed the deed was lost, there would be no intent; but if she knew it was not lost and still filed the report, it amounts to filing a false report," Pongsuwat said.
Three parties may be considered victims: the land official who received the statement, the police officer who took the report of the lost deed, and the temple, which holds rights under court judgment. To proceed with filing the false report case, the land office must first wait for the abbot to present the original deed and formally object. Since the application process has not yet issued a replacement deed and is currently in the announcement phase allowing stakeholders to file objections, should the abbot present the original deed and it is verified as authentic and not lost, the land officer will cancel the replacement application. A replacement deed can only be issued if the original is genuinely lost or damaged. Once the deed is confirmed as not lost, it does not meet the criteria for issuance. The case will then be referred to investigators and forwarded as a false report filing.
