UPDATE: Head of Foundation Taking Care of Phuket Big Buddha Denies Illegal Forest Encroachment

Phuket –

The president of a foundation that takes care of the Phuket Big Buddha has denied a charge of illegally encroaching on a reserved forest.

Our previous stories:

Phuket has been announced as a disaster zone in which 209 families are currently suffering from the effects of landslides and flash floods, announced relevant officials.

Thirteen people have been found dead including two Russian nationals after a landslide in Karon on Friday early in the morning (August 23^rd).

A local in Phuket has filed a letter to the Phuket Governor asking for a formal investigation to find the causes of a landslide on the Nark Kerd Hill in Karon, Mueang Phuket.

The Karon Mayor has confirmed that no legal license was requested for some construction on the Phuket Big Buddha.

The Department of Mineral Resources has confirmed soil indicators used to detect possible landslides are not working due to a lack of budget and maintenance.

The Royal Forest Department has confirmed that some areas at the Big Buddha have encroached illegally into a reserve forest.

The Royal Forest Department has seized back a five Rai plot of allegedly encroached land at the Phuket Bug Buddha.

The Phuket Big Buddha on the Nerk Kerd Mountain is temporarily closed for tourism.

Now for the update:

This week the head of the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkhon Sattha 45 Foundation, Mr. Supohn Wanichakun, and his lawyer, presented themselves to the Karon Police Lieutenant Colonel Eakkasak Khwanwan. He is being accused of the Big Buddha encroaching illegally on a reserved forest. However, Mr. Supohn has denied the charge and plans to fight the charges legally.

He has been temporarily released while legal proceedings are organised that could see one of Phuket’s most popular tourist attractions indefinitely closed for concerns around landslide safety and land encroachment concerns.