<![CDATA[A criminal investigation spearheaded by the Royal Thai Navy into what turned out to be a northern Phuket illegal excavation business in the region of Mai Khao has recently been expanded in order to uncover if the operation was being undertaken with the knowledge or support of local officials. Navy personnel executed a raid of the Moo 4 site just north of the Thai island’s international airport at the end of July. The 9,000 square meter site was covered in illegal earthworks according to security officers present at the raid. Lieutenant Sompop Kamkana, the commanding officer of the Royal Thai Navy’s security detachment involved in the raid, revealed in an interview with Thai Visa News that there were eight trucks on site, each accompanied by one driver. These individuals were taken into custody, Lt. Sompop added, remarking that there was one individual who escaped in a smaller vehicle. In the wake of the raid, the naval security officer also revealed that the owner of the excavation business that had been engaged in illegal digging activity, a Mr. Sarawut Seesakukam, had identified himself as such. However, with Mr. Sarawut not present within the province, he could not report for questioning, despite the fact that his company, the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organisation, was allegedly caught red-handed. Meanwhile, Mr. Sarawut seemed to have changed his tune just a day ago, as he informed The Phuket News that he was not involved in the company in any way – though he did admit he had knowledge of the operation. Meanwhile, Suthee Thongyam, Phuket’s vice governor, was adamant that anyone who had any involvement with the company would be subject to investigation. Mr. Suthee added that there could be malfeasance charges for any government officials found to have been involved in the business in any way. So far, a handful of facts have emerged from the case, primarily that the company was issued an excavation permit on April 23rd, only to have it expire on July 21st. The vice governor said that both the Phuket Industry Office and Forestry Office are being contacted to determine if the company was indeed authorized to conduct any excavations on the site in question. For now there is little to no information regarding the state of the dig site, whether there were any archaeological artifacts that were inadvertently disturbed or destroyed, or if there were any remains purposefully removed from their final resting place. With the investigation still ongoing, it may be some time before the truth comes to light, especially with Mr. Sarawut suddenly changing his tune so completely and with the company’s only permit having expired more than a week before the actual dig took place. Local police will continue to work with the Royal Thai Navy in uncovering clues as to what actually occurred during the dig and to what purpose it was undertaken. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user: Toey19863 ]]>
Thai Navy Investigates Illegal Excavation in Phuket
