Allegations have surfaced that a state official aided in the Sor Por Kor land issue at Wat Pa Chana Jai, having been prosecuted before but not transferred outside Saraburi province. Suspicious evidence involves a land purchase contract.
Following the raid on Wat Pa Chana Jai meditation center, located in Moo Ban Ariya, Wat Pa Chana Jai, the International Heart Care Buddhist Center, and Pha Chana Jai area in Nong Yang Suea subdistrict, Muak Lek district, bordering Wang Muang district, Saraburi province on 18 Feb 2026, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Forestry Department, the National Office of Buddhism, and Saraburi provincial Anti-Corruption Commission reported that the center had encroached on over a thousand rai of Sor Por Kor land. On the day of the raid, "Kruba Chaiwat" was absent, attending activities elsewhere and scheduled to attend a press conference on 21 Feb 2026 but suddenly fell ill. His followers confirmed their willingness to cooperate fully with investigations.
Thairath Online's investigative team reported that undercover inquiries revealed a state official had surveyed Sor Por Kor land for the meditation center. This official had previously issued Sor Por Kor land rights within forest areas and had faced prosecution before. Recently, amid the Wat Pa Chana Jai dispute, investigators questioned why this official was not transferred out of Saraburi province. They also speculated whether the official was backed by influential politicians in Ang Thong province.
Previously, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, known as Big Tao, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, personally led an arrest of this official in 2025. However, the official was soon released on bail and remained stationed in Saraburi.
Investigations found that this state official was involved in surveying the disputed land area of the meditation center.
During the 18 Feb 2026 raid, the center's staff claimed that certain state officials provided advice. Some local officials said a community meeting had approved expanding the area, thus allowing the expansion. However, in reality, the meditation center cannot hold a community meeting without prior approval from the National Office of Buddhism.
Reviewing documents from the National Office of Buddhism showed no record of community meetings before applying to Sor Por Kor. The encroached area is a pristine forest habitat for wildlife such as birds and squirrels. This matter requires thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
On 23 Feb 2026, Pol Maj Gen Anek Taosupap, Director of the Department of Special Investigation, stated that his department is responsible for cases involving Sor Por Kor land encroachment, forest areas, and forestry-related offenses. Victims have already come forward to provide information.
Officials responsible from Sor Por Kor and the Forestry Department have been informed to gather evidence needed to file complaints against offenders. They are to compile complete evidence and details, with complaints expected to be filed within this week.
The Department of Special Investigation was invited to two meetings with various agencies before launching joint operations. They learned that the 2,000-rai area of Wat Pa Chana Jai meditation center is divided into two parts. One was formerly a national reserved forest, later declassified by the Forestry Department and assigned to Sor Por Kor. Sor Por Kor allocated parts of this land to farmers for cultivation, mainly in flat areas.
The other part is the meditation forest area of Pa Chana Jai, which includes the Ariya village area. Both parts are Sor Por Kor land allocated to farmers. Evidence includes sales contracts worth millions of baht, indicating these were sales, not donations.
Furthermore, the Sor Por Kor land is under Sor Por Kor ownership, but some farmers who received rights sold portions to the meditation center. Part of this land is on a mountain summit.
This terrain is unsuitable for agriculture. Sor Por Kor confirmed that this mountain land was not assigned to farmers but remains under Sor Por Kor care. However, it was cleared and converted into a Dharma practice ground called Pha Chana Jai, without agricultural use. Sor Por Kor plans to reclaim this land to allocate it to other farmers.
Evidence shows Sor Por Kor land encroachment dating back to 2023. The meditation center’s lawyer claimed on 21 Feb that new Sor Por Kor laws allow land rights transfer to others. The department chief firmly denied this, explaining that Sor Por Kor rights can only be transferred to heirs after the original holder's death, such as from parent to child. Attempts to circumvent this by claiming the holder relinquished rights to allow others to use the land are invalid. Relinquished rights must be returned to Sor Por Kor. Any further use requires Sor Por Kor's permission, which has not been granted.
Thairath Online will continue to follow this issue closely to report the facts from both the accused and officials involved in the investigation.