LAND
ISSUE COMPLAINTS:
The Land Dept has set up a hotline for the public to lodge graft complaints
in Thailand. Dept Chief Peerapol Traitasawit said the hotline is part of a plan
to improve the efficiency of the land dept whose staff have been involved in
huge grafts cases. Panels will be formed to setup advise on land reform, and
investigate complaints and land ownership transfers. Information about corrupt
officials will be posted on the depts. website. There is a telephone line that
handles all complaints 02-622-2380 Bangkok. This year 2006 the dept aims to assist the
poor and hopes to issue title deeds for 600,000 land plots and ask the rich to
return excess land for redistribution to the poor. Source Bkk Post 3rd Jan 2006
In 2005 there were many land scams where corrupt officials sold false
documents for land all over Thailand. Land developers appear to be the worse
culprits for capital gain and even today Thailand is awash with sub standard
buildings and land that has been encroached in National parks and public lands
by developers. Some like the New World building near Koh San Rd were built with
extra floors and nothing was done for years due to backhanders. However when the
building was finally condemned it collapsed under demolition.
It has been a problem when foreigners also apply for lease titles as some
officials will assist Thais rather than their spouses as the foreigner does not
or cannot read Thai. In this instance it is always a good idea to have an
independent adviser like a lawyer to assist you on all transfers as you may find
what you are signing something you think is OK but in fact is not in your favour.
When buying any land you must make sure the land is correct and this is where a
lawyer will search the title as the pegs may have been moved or the title is not
clear cut.
|
Menu: 
