Property magnate Prayudh Mahagitsiri faces jail time for illegal land acquisition
In a stunning turn of events, an influential group, including several state officials, has been slapped with prison sentences for their involvement in a land title scam. The scheme centered around the Mountain Creek Golf & Resort & Residence project in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district.
On Thursday, the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 3, in Surin province delivered its verdict, handing down prison terms to nine individuals and fining two private companies.
Among the convicts is Prayudh Mahagitsiri, a well-known businessman, who received a 24-year imprisonment sentence. His daughter, Ausana, was given 12 years. Despite the ruling, Prayudh's lawyer submitted a bail request, which the court decided to forward to the Court of Appeal for further consideration.
Following the court's decision, Prayudh was taken into custody at Surin Central Prison due to pre-existing health conditions. By Friday, he and his daughter were granted bail at 1 million baht each, with the condition that they not travel abroad.
The case stemmed from a resolution on July 12, 2021 by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which found the defendants guilty of corruption involving the unlawful issuance of land titles in state-owned land areas, specifically in protected forest reserves and land reform zones.
Investigations revealed that the private sector supported government officials in expanding the area covered by the land deeds for the Mountain Creek Golf & Resort & Residence project. This constituted collusion and active support of corruption, they found.
Prayudh, known for his prominent role in numerous groundbreaking initiatives, consistently denied any involvement in the wrongdoing. He claimed that all land surveys for legally acquired plots were carried out by government officials acting within their authority.
Prayudh is a highly influential figure in Thailand, earning a bachelor's degree from the University of San Diego and boasting an impressive net worth of US$2.6 billion. His family owns several franchises, including Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme.
The legal dispute between Prayudh's family and Nestle, the Swiss global food and beverage giant, is gaining attention in Thailand's instant coffee industry. The ongoing conflict began after the joint venture between Nestle and the Mahagitsiri family ended without a consensus on the company's future.
In August 2023, Prayudh faced another conviction in Krabi for supporting the illegal issuance of land title deeds. In that case, ten former land officials were convicted of unlawfully granting title deeds for land reform zone and protected forest totalling over 66 rai.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the systemic corruption in Thailand's land management, particularly involving influential business figures and state collusion.
- Despite Prayudh Mahagitsiri's repeated denials of involvement, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for corruption in a land title scam, along with his daughter, Ausana, receiving a 12-year sentence.
- The case, involving the Mountain Creek Golf & Resort & Residence project, had its roots in the National Anti-Corruption Commission's July 2021 resolution, accusing the defendants of illegally issuing land titles in protected forest reserves and land reform zones.
- The legal troubles for Prayudh Mahagitsiri extend beyond this case, as he faced another conviction in Krabi in August 2023, supporting the illegal issuance of land title deeds for land reform zone and protected forest totalling over 66 rai.
- The high-profile conviction of Prayudh Mahagitsiri, known for his business ventures and influential political connections, underscores the pervasive issue of corruption and collusion in Thailand's land management system, as highlighted by the ongoing conflict between him and Nestle in Thailand's general news and crime-and-justice sectors.
