KHON KAEN - Police in this northeastern province are investigating a complaint against an estate administrator accused of giving false statements about a land title deed at the centre of a bitter dispute over the future of a forest temple.

The abbot of Wat Pa Adulyaram recently produced what he says is the original title deed for the land on which the temple was built, which was donated by Khon Kaen resident Hiang Phimsri, who died in 1991.

Phra Kru Adulyasananithet has lodged an objection to an application by Hiang’s heirs for a replacement deed, and is asking to have the property registered in the temple’s name.

Officials from the provincial office of the Department of Lands on Tuesday filed a complaint with police against Buakhai Sornsamut, the administrator of Hiang’s estate, who applied for the replacement deed after claiming the original document had been lost.

Pol Col Yotsawat Kaewsuebthanyanit, chief of the Muang Khon Kaen station, said on Wednesday that police accepted the complaint and have already questioned two land office employees: the counter officer who received the application and recorded the statement, and the supervisor who authorised the matter to proceed.

“Investigators will now examine the evidence submitted by the provincial land office, as well as other relevant witness evidence,” he said.

“They will then consider whether to issue a summons for Ms Buakhai, the estate administrator, to acknowledge the charges.”

Pol Col Yotsawat said there was already clear documentary evidence because the accused’s signature appeared on the relevant documents. Investigators also plan to summon two witnesses whose signatures also appeared on the documents.

The process would have to be conducted carefully and could take about one to two weeks, he said.

Pongsuwat Chaitonchueak, a senior official with the provincial land office, said two potential offences may apply under the Criminal Code: making a false statement to a public official, and causing a public official to record false information in an official document.

He said the two land officials involved were not concerned about the case because they had acted strictly in accordance with legal regulations and administrative procedures.

Meanwhile, police are waiting to hear from Chommanee Noichan, also known as “Aunt Da”, who is the spokesperson for the heirs in their quest to reclaim the land from the temple.

Police have issued summonses for Ms Chommanee and four others to acknowledge complaints of trespassing and obstructing the entrances to Wat Pa Adulyaram, after security video and witness accounts placed her at the scene.

Ms Chommanee, a 62-year-old granddaughter of Hiang Phimsri, earlier told the media that she would meet investigators in response to the summons.

The first summons requires her to appear on Aug 27. If she fails to do so, a second summons will be issued in accordance with legal procedures, said Pol Col Yotsawat.

Wat Pa Adulyaram, a forest temple in Muang district of Khon Kaen, has been in the headlines because of a land dispute involving the heirs of a man who donated land for the temple’s establishment in 1990. (Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri)