THE Central Administrative Court ordered the Land Department to pay Progressive Movement Chairman Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit compensation totalling over 4.9 million baht at 3 percent annual interest for having revoked the title deeds of two plots of land in Ratchaburi, Thai Rath newspaper said.
The court pointed out that while the department took the right step in revoking the Nor Sor Sam or certificate of use titles because both plots are part of a permanent forest area, compensation has to be paid to Thanathorn because he had bought them in good faith.
However the court found fault with Chom Bueng district chief, an Interior Ministry official, for not being cautious in issuing the two title deeds in October 1978. One title was for a 43 rai 300 square wah plot and the other for 38 rai 67 square wah plot, with the former going to Mr. Udom Kittiudompanich and the latter to Mr. Chainarong Busri.
Without notifying the Land Department the two owners sold the land plots to Rai Oi Mitr Phol Co. Ltd. on September 12, 1985. This company in turn sold them to Mr. Saroj Wasuwanich on Dec. 13, 1991 and he then sold them to Thananthorn on May 23, 2000.
As Thanathorn had bought the two plots in good faith and the district chief had erred, the court awarded him 4,785,782.98 baht compensation which with annual 3 percent interest added amounted to 4,912,311.21 baht. An additional 2 percent default interest can be levied but the total should not be more than 5 percent per annum. Payment is to start within 60 days of the case being finalised.
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Progressive Movement Chairman Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Naewna
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