The session, held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Tuesday (Dec 3), was chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai.
Present to hear the developments were Keirov Kritteeranon, Secretary-General of the national Office of the Ombudsman, along with Kanithnun Apihansakon, Deputy Secretary-General of the national Office of the Ombudsman.
Other officials present included representatives from the Royal Forest Department, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) and other related agencies.
The complaints focussed on two primary cases: a hotel and restaurant allegedly encroaching on protected forest areas near the ‘Sam Ao’ (‘Three Bays) Viewpoint in Soi Laem Mum Nai, and unauthorised well drilling in forest land at Soi Patak 24.
Both cases were reported as perpetrated by "local leaders", who were not named in an official report of the meeting.
The Office of the Ombudsman has conducted preliminary investigations at the two sites and gathered partial clarifications from local authorities, but additional steps are required to resolve the issues, said the official report.
During the meeting, officials reviewed findings from earlier inspections and discussed legal and ethical violations allegedly committed by local leaders.
Concerns were raised about incomplete information provided by the Land Department and the Phuket Provincial Land Office.
The lack of information provided by Phuket land officials prompted the need for further collaboration “to clarify facts, identify challenges in law enforcement and propose solutions”, the official report said.
Key issues under discussion included the investigation of the accused leaders’ land use and business activities. The meeting sought to determine whether the reported actions constitute disciplinary offenses or breaches of the ethical code for local government officials, the report said.
Agencies were urged to expedite legal action if violations are confirmed, the report added.
Moving forward, the Office of the Ombudsman pledged to continue monitoring progress and pushing for accountability in resolving these cases, the report concluded.