A red-shirt leader produced an audio recording at a press conference yesterday of a man claiming to have transferred the holding rights of a controversial plot of land to Privy Councillor General Surayud Chulanont's aide for free.
The plot has been reason for a lot of controversy because it houses Surayud's vacation home and the red shirts claim it located inside the forest reserve of Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima.
According to red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua the voice in the recording belonged to a Nakhon Ratchasima businessman called Noppadon Pitakvanich, who had bought it from the original landowner Bao Sinnok.
The recording was allegedly that of a conversation between Natthawut and Noppadon.
In the clip, Noppadon says that he bought the 21-ran plot from Bao, who is now a Buddhist, for Bt700,000 and five years later transferred the holding rights to Surayud's aide Colonel Surarit Chantrathip for free.
Surarit reportedly bought the land from Noppadon for Bt50,000.
Noppadon was heard saying that once he was left bankrupt by the failure of a housing project, an "influential figure" asked for that piece of land for free. Noppadon allegedly transferred the title deed to Surarit later.
According to Natthawut, Noppadon was an important businessman in Nakhon Ratchasima at a time when Surayud Chulanont was commander of the Second Army Region, which covers the province. These days though Noppadon has been in hiding.
The red-shirt leader said Prasong Soonsiri, a National Legislative Assembly member, had mentioned Noppadon's case at a debate. Natthawut said that Surayud was serving as PM at the time, and Noppadon allegedly suffered "a lot of intimidation".
The red-shirt leader swore that the voice was really that of Noppadon.
When contacted by The Nation, Natthawut declined to discuss details about his so-called meeting with Noppadon saying he did not wish to discuss the matter at the moment.
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