PUBLISHED : 16 Jan 2025 at 17:57
Thai Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also leads the coalition party Bhumjaithai, announced on Thursday that the extensive land ownership of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s family linked to the Alpine Golf and Sports Club must be revoked.
Minister Anutin indicated that Chamnanwit Terat, the deputy permanent secretary for the interior, has a responsibility to execute this revocation by the end of September, prior to his retirement in October. Chamnanwit oversees the Department of Lands.
He expressed confidence that Chamnanwit would complete the necessary processes on time; failure to do so could lead to accountability for dereliction of duty.
According to Anutin, the Council of State has already mandated the revocation of this private land ownership, leaving Chamnanwit with no alternatives.
Should the land ownership be revoked, compensation will be required for the current owners, placing a substantial financial responsibility on the Department of Lands, as compensation will be determined based on the land’s current assessed value.
Anutin emphasized that this issue should not be interpreted as a conflict between his Bhumjaithai Party and the Pheu Thai Party led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn.
Additionally, a Pheu Thai minister previously asserted that a contentious land plot in Buri Ram province, known as Khao Kradong, rightfully belongs to the State Railway of Thailand. Buri Ram is a key political stronghold for Bhumjaithai.
Ownership History
The 924-rai land at the Alpine Golf and Sports Club, along with an associated housing development in the Klong Luang district of Pathum Thani province, was donated by the late Noem Chamnanchartsakda to Wat Dhammamikaramvoraviharn, a temple in Prachuap Khiri Khan, in 1971.
Following her passing, the Mahamongkut Ratchawittayalai Foundation was designated as the executor of Noem’s estate and subsequently sold the land to Alpine Real Estate and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, despite legal prohibitions against the sale of temple land.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn, who assumed office on August 18 of the previous year, previously owned 22.41 million shares in Alpine Golf and Sports Club Co. However, she transferred those shares to her mother, Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, as of September 4. Khunying Potjaman is known as the former spouse of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
A shareholder record dated September 4 last year lists Khunying Potjaman, Panthongtae Shinawatra, and Pinthongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong as holding 29.88 million, 22.42 million, and 22.41 million shares in the company, respectively. Panthongtae and Pinthongta are older siblings of Ms. Paetongtarn.
