Gold hunters accused of starting wildfires to evade arrest in Kanchanaburi

15 Sept 03:54 Key points summarised by AI

Illegal gold prospectors in Kanchanaburi province are accused of deliberately starting over 800 wildfires in Thong Pha Phum and Khao Laem National Parks to distract officials and evade arrest.
Park officials report that prospectors also fire guns to scare them, making fire containment challenging in elevated, difficult-to-access mountainous areas, with 11 suspects already arrested and charged with arson.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.