Police reveal how Phuket's public beaches were rented out - for billions

[ZeldasCavern 38]

In this article and what no one seems to have commented about is the amazing outcome - by which

"In court, Yutthana was sentenced to six months in jail and fined B4,000. Because he had pleaded guilty, the sentence was halved to three months and B2,000, and the jail term was suspended for a year."

"Meanwhile, in a parallel case in the Administrative Court, the Kathu District Officer, the Mayor of Patong and Patong Municipality were accused of giving permission to Yutthana to occupy public beach for profit, but that court dismissed their cases."

This is why this goes on...

AN EXAMPLE AND A WARNING

At the press conference today a six-year-old case was offered as a warning to sunbed operators who have been clamouring to get back on the beach, even appealing to HM the King.

The case involved Yutthana Tamchu, a member of the Sunbed Operators’ Club in the Patong area. He was taken to court in September 2008 for trespassing on Tritrang Beach two years earlier, by setting out chairs, tables, sunbeds and umbrellas for rent.

In court, Yutthana was sentenced to six months in jail and fined B4,000. Because he had pleaded guilty, the sentence was halved to three months and B2,000, and the jail term was suspended for a year.

Meanwhile, in a parallel case in the Administrative Court, the Kathu District Officer, the Mayor of Patong and Patong Municipality were accused of giving permission to Yutthana to occupy public beach for profit, but that court dismissed their cases.

During his trial Yutthana admitted his guilt but complained that he had been singled out unfairly because other sunbed operators at Tritrang had not been arrested. The judge responded that this was irrelevant.

[whaleboneman 2,694]

but the other side tourist need sun beds and umbrellas. so someone have to rent.

Why on earth should someone have to rent. There are many places (but not in this country) where the municipality put sunbeds on the beaches for free and the nearby restaurants, bars and hotels will supply food and drink for those that want it. Hawkers are not allowed on these beaches. I hope Thailand can also adopt such practices.

So in a country with this much poverty, poor education system and no social security net, you would like them to spend money on sunbeds for wealthy tourists?

[Johpa 2,162]

Nobody will have to pay back anything, nobody will go to jail. This is all publicity for the army. It will quietly slip away.

It is not just publicity but the continued campaign of redirection of money from one political faction to an increasingly all-powerful single faction.

[whaleboneman 2,694]

but the other side tourist need sun beds and umbrellas. so someone have to rent.

They should do the same as other countries and rent out the beach with control on prices and the money goes to central/local government - not the mayor's pocket.

I'm pretty sure that only some of the money goes in the mayor's pocket-most probably gets passed on to the "central government".

[Beetlejuice 5,710]

The military have one hell of a task on their hands in breaking a well organised chain of corruption and criminal dealings that has probably been going on for decades, from the bottom right up to the top.

All this is going to take a lot of effort and resources. This is something that cannot be rectified within just a few weeks, but may take months or even years. How the military intend to tackle all these criminals who`s dubious activities cover a huge area and probably involving many people, I have no idea, or even if it`s possible at all?

[SilverBeast 51]

I thought I read somewhere that its the Royal Family that owns all the beaches and thus isn't private property at all. Rather public land. But did the municipality have authority to do what it did under the government that sits about it? The district or federal government?

If the Hotels wanted sun beds on the beach then the hotel should have sought permission to put them their for the use of their patrons. The Royal Family can own the land, the hotel can own the beds and the patrons of the hotel can use the sun beds in front of their hotel. The "wealthy Farang" would be paying the hotels for their stay anyways...

[enufsaid 65]

How naïve can you be, or perhaps you've always mixed with Falangs. This is how it's done in Thailand, love the fact it's openly corrupt & love that is not dammed politically correct.

[Torrens54 1,734]

but the other side tourist need sun beds and umbrellas. so someone have to rent.

Dare say that it is possible to rent an umbrella at a reasonable price from a nearby hotel and then just do like people do everywhere, put a Beach Towel on the sand and settle down for a pleasant day, without being ripped off.

[NomadJoe 2,229]

Phuket’s billion-baht illegal beach rental scheme exposed

PHUKET: Police have turned their eye away from Phuket’s taxi mafia to the island’s billion-baht illegal beach rental scheme – starting with the role played by Kata-Karon Mayor Tawee Thongcham.

Summons were issued today for 15 people, including Mayor Tawee, who stand accused of illegally issuing permits for local beach vendors to use the public beach land, said Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Paween Pongsirin.

The pricing for the “leases” were displayed at a press conference today: a five-year contract for 99 meters of beach cost 6.25 million baht; a three-year contract for 80m of beach cost 4.5mn baht; and a one-year contract for an undisclosed amount of beach cost 1.68mn baht.

- See more at: http://phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Phukets-billionbaht-illegal-beach-rental-scheme-exposed

[LivinginKata 9,142]

2 off topic posts relating to another news story - removed.

[dukebowling 142]

Quite surprising the responses praising the government on this subject. I guess many don't read the articles carefully and jump to conclusions.

It is actually a rather embarrassing display of law enforcement.

An innocent man charged with obtaining an official permit from the government. Then that same government sentences him. The government officials that issued him the permit…charges dismissed.

Embarrassing government failure.

Edited September 25, 2014 by dukebowling

[hgma 1,225]

Thank the Lord that the militairy are around to secure the 'safety' of the policeforce on Phuket.

[Thai at Heart 17,307]

a map of Kata Beach clearly showing how the entire beach had been divided up, and naming the operators for each of the 31 slices, which run from the top of the beach to about halfway to the high tide line.

The map notes that the total length of the beach is 1,497.2 metres and the space for sunbeds takes up 1,087 metres of that length

That shows some sophisticated organization. So, Take that! All you Thai-bashers who are always going on about how Thais are disorganized goofballs!

T

When it comes to.corrupt govt business, they are truly world class.

[KarenBravo 10,130]

Neither do I, I just think it is ironic the superiority complex that is endemic in the expat community, yes there are exceptions.

Generally they are the same people that in their country of birth b*tch and complain about the immigrants wanting to come to their country and change things.... then what do they do when they get here? Wish they could change things to be more like their own country, develop a superiority complex and look down on the people that own the country.

Basically the exact same thing that pissed them off about the immigrants in their home country!

No......corruption is wrong in any country, or culture.

Next, you'll be defending FGM as it's cultural......

[Strangebrew 2,095]

Now all you bashing the progress being made or not. The general PM after all is a military man There are certain ways there taught to do things. Step by step. There's change in the wind. KUDO's To the PM.