Mogul sentenced for land grab

Court hands prison terms to nine individuals over title deeds controversy

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Nine people, including state officials, have been handed prison terms for corruption involving the unlawful issuance of land title deeds in areas designated as reserved forest and the land reform area in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Sikhiu district.

The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 3, in Surin province delivered its verdict on Thursday. The court also fined two private companies.

Prayudh Mahagitsiri, a well-known businessman who will turn 80 this year, received 24 years’ imprisonment. His daughter, Ausana, was handed 12 years.

Following the ruling, Prayudh’s lawyer submitted a bail request with surety. The court decided to forward the request to the Court of Appeal for further consideration.

The Court of Appeal had not issued a decision on Thursday. As such, the Department of Corrections took all of the defendants into custody at Surin Central Prison. Prayudh was placed in the prison hospital due to pre-existing health conditions.

Yesterday, the court granted him and his daughter bail at 1 million baht each, on the condition that they not travel abroad.

WHAT IS THIS CASE ABOUT?

The case stems from a resolution on July 12, 2021 by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which found nine individuals, including land officials in Sikhiu district, and two private companies — Lakewood Country Club, of which Prayudh is the chairman and CEO, and Posco Thainox Plc, of which he is an honorary chairman — guilty of corruption involving the unlawful issuance of land titles in state-owned land areas, specifically reserved forest and land reform zones.

Investigations revealed that the private sector supported government officials in expanding the area the land deeds cover to develop the Mountain Creek Golf & Resort & Residence project of Lakewood Country Club. This constituted collusion and active support of corruption, they found.