Phuket MP Demands Criminal Charges Against Senior Forestry Official Over Illegal Freedom Beach Land Title Issuance Despite Still Receiving 67,000 Baht Monthly Pension

On May 20, 2025, Chalermphong Saengdee, a Phuket MP from the Pheu Thai Party, posted on Facebook that a Royal Forest Department official involved in the illegal issuance of a land title for Freedom Beach in Phuket was dismissed from service but continues to receive pension payments and no criminal charges have progressed. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued an order terminating the senior official's employment over unauthorized aerial photo analysis that facilitated illegal land title issuance at Freedom Beach in Phuket, a matter Chalermphong said he had already raised in Parliament. Chalermphong noted that despite years passing since the incident, no criminal case has been filed against the former official, who still receives 67,560 baht monthly. Beyond the Freedom Beach case, the same individual also provided false aerial photo analysis of Koh Kradan in Kantang District, Trang Province, within Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, contradicting actual facts. According to ministry orders, both cases resulted in dismissal with instructions for the Royal Forest Department to pursue criminal charges. Chalermphong stated that these orders date back to 2558 BE (2015), with 11 years having passed, and called for urgent action against the wrongdoer and involvement from state agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). "I urge the public to follow this case," Chalermphong said. "The person must be punished, but merely being dismissed from service while still receiving pension is not justice. Without criminal prosecution, this constitutes unfair advantage taken against the nation and its people."