The NACC Secretary-General countered the DSI regarding the Khao Kradong land issue, explaining that the land ownership dispute among the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), private entities, and citizens requires the relevant state agencies to file lawsuits themselves. Meanwhile, the NACC is investigating the Director-General of the Land Department, the SRT Governor, and involved officials.
At 11:30 a.m. on 18 March 2026, at the NACC office, Mr. Surapong Intarathaworn, Secretary-General and spokesperson for the NACC, updated on the progress of the Special Case Investigation Department (DSI) forwarding the Khao Kradong land case dossier to the NACC. He explained that the issue concerns land title deeds possibly overlapping or located within land belonging to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). There are multiple title deeds held by various parties, creating a dispute between the SRT and those claiming ownership via these deeds. The core issue involves SRT land boundaries and the use or possession of the disputed land, as well as the issuance of title deeds in the area. Initially, there is no evidence suggesting state officials have committed corruption or misconduct within the NACC's jurisdiction. Historically, these disputes between state agencies and private parties fall under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Court.
Regarding this case, in 2011 the NACC investigated state officials and resolved to revoke two land title deeds. Accordingly, on 14 September 2011, the NACC sent a letter to the Land Department requesting the revocation of title deeds numbered 3466 and 8564 in Isan Subdistrict, Mueang Buriram District, Buriram Province, because they overlapped SRT land, under Section 99 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 1999. However, the Land Department had not revoked these titles, and the SRT, as the landowner and victim, did not exercise its right to sue in court to have the deeds revoked per the NACC's resolution. At the 100/2023 NACC meeting on 19 September 2023, it was decided to investigate the Land Department Director-General, the SRT Governor, and related officials from that time. The case is currently under NACC investigation.
Subsequently, on 24 December 2025, the DSI sent a letter transferring responsibility to the NACC to consider a complaint requesting investigation into alleged tolerance of land encroachment on SRT land in the Khao Kradong area, Buriram Province. The complaint also cited the SRT’s failure to enforce court rulings and to file eviction lawsuits against land encroachers, including those holding title deeds numbered 3466 and 8564 in Isan Subdistrict, Mueang Buriram District, Buriram Province.
The matter the DSI forwarded to the NACC involves allegations against the Minister of Interior, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the Director-General of the Land Department, and the investigation committee under Section 61 of the Land Code. They are accused of misconduct or dereliction of duty by failing to properly revoke land title deeds in the Khao Kradong area.
The NACC office clarified that land ownership disputes between state agencies and private parties or citizens are matters for the respective state agencies to pursue legally themselves. As for investigations within the NACC’s jurisdiction, the commission is expediting fact-finding procedures for prompt completion. The office also noted that some news reports may contain facts that differ from today’s official statement.