NACC strengthens Alpine case

       An anti-graft subcommittee has found evidence which it believes could be used in filing charges against the leaders of the Pracharaj and Puea Thai parties in connection with the Alpine land ownership scandal.
       The National Anti-Corruption Commission subcommittee has prepared charges to be brought against Pracharaj's Sanoh Thienthong and Puea Thai's Yongyuth Wichaidit based on the evidence, according to Vicha Mahakhun,the NACC commissioner who heads the inquiry panel looking into the case.
       The investigation has been completed with the necessary information and evi-dence, he said. However, he did not give details of what charges would be brought.
       Mr Vicha said the subcommittee had advised Mr Sanoh of its findings by mail and he had answered by sending a letter to contest them. Mr Yongyuth sent his lawyer to acknowledge the findings on his behalf.
       The two have been given 15 days to appear before the subcommittee to defend themselves or to submit written testimony in their defence.
       The subcommittee will then begin witness hearings before forwarding its recommendations on what action to take against the two to the main NACC panel. Mr Vicha said he had signed documents approving the action against the two last week.
       The 924-rai Alpine golf course and housing development in Pathum Thani became the subject of an ownership dispute when, in 2001, the Council of State declared it was monastic land and urged that its ownership be revoked.
       The Land Department revoked the rights of the new owner, who then lodged an appeal against the decision with the Interior Ministry.
       Mr Yongyuth, as then acting interior permanent secretary, suspended the department's decision to revoke the ownership in 2002.
       Mr Yongyuth used an administrative law to overrule the department's decision after being advised the department would lose any appeal brought by the developers in court.
       Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam asked land officials in January this year to re-examine the case to determine if it was still possible to retake the land. The land was originally owned by Neum Chamnanchartsakda who donated it in her will to Wat Thammikaram in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
       The temple decided not to register the land as it could not afford the 10 million baht in land transfer fees. It transferred it to a foundation, which then sold it to a private company.
       It is alleged the transfer of the land proceeded under questionable circumstances.
       The land was transferred to the foundation which acted as an executor for Neum on Aug 21,1990, and then it was sold on the same day to the company which operates the Alpine Golf and Sports Club, Alpine Real Estate and Golf Co.
       The temple's request for permission to sell the land to the company was signed by Mr Sanoh, then deputy interior minister.
       The land was developed into a golf course and a housing estate.
       Mr Sanoh himself partly owned the golf course, which was later sold to Thaksin Shinawatra in 1997. Alpine Real Estate and Golf Co is now owned by Thaksin's former wife, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, and their two daughters.
       Back in 2002, the opposition Democrat Party launched a censure debate against the government of then prime minister Thaksin over the sale of the land from the temple to the company held by the family of Mr Sanoh for about 142 million baht. The same year Watchara Phetthong, a Democrat MP, also lodged a complaint with the NACC against the politicians accused of involvement.
       The issue lay moribund for years until Democrat MPs recently raised the controversy in what was seen as a move to pressure the Bhumjaithai Party, which is in charge of the Interior Ministry,over the nomination of a new police chief.