This weekend, anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkid revealed that the Department of Special Investigation was looking into the land deeds of ultra-luxury Phuket resort Sripanwa and whether the lands were purchased illegally and/or encroaching on public land.
The DSI has already asked the National Anti Corruption Commission to review whether the land purchase documents were illegal or fraudulent. The DSI has also involved the Anti Money Laundering Office and the Royal Forest Department to investigate whether Sripanwa’s swimming pool was built on forest land which could be considered a money laundering offense.
If proven to be guilty, there would be a massive investigation into the Phuket Provincial government.
The provincial government has previously denied that Sripanwa was built illegally. If any illegality is now found, there would be massive corruption investigations within the provincial office as well as the NACC, the forest department, and the Ministry of the Interior.
However, if the case disappears quietly, like many other high profile land acquisition cases throughout Thailand have a habit of doing, it would also be revealing for the light it would shed on the relationship between big business and and big families in Thailand.
Remember that Sripanwa belongs to the powerful Issara family who own real estate in both Bangkok and Phuket.
The family, including Sripanwa founder Vorasit “Plawan” Issara, has close ties to the current government. Plawan has taken to social media to defend the government and praise Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha.
Not surprised.. Two idiots in one frame #แบนศรีพันวา pic.twitter.com/WY6F8cfRb4
— 𓃱 (@withwallflower) September 21, 2020
Plawan also has a habit of posting strong political opinions against the opposition on his social media.
Got sometimg that was deleted. #แบนศรีพันวา pic.twitter.com/ciJb9qUv0b
— P (@pndemocracy) September 20, 2020
If this case were to disappear, it would speak volumes about the relationships one can cultivate with those in power and how prevalent the baramee system still is in Thailand. The Issara family have been one of the most vocal backers of this government, of the PDRC back before the coup that brought this government into power, and of Prayut.
It is one of the few hospitality businesses that still supports this government after its disastrous showing during the pandemic.
It will be interesting to see how far the government goes to protect its backers and allies especially if the allegations prove to be true.