In the rough: Thai tycoon jailed for golf course land fraud
The 900-acre (360-hectare) 27-hole resort in Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Bangkok, bills itself as 'a sensory multiplex for those with lofty desires'.
But authorities said 74 acres added to the development fell within areas protected by conservation laws.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct on Thursday found 79-year-old Prayudh guilty of multiple charges including bribery and land encroachment, local media outlets said.
He was sentenced to 24 years alongside 10 other defendants including his daughter, who was handed a 12-year jail term.
Prayudh is filing for an appeal, reports said.
He has an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion, according to Forbes, with business interests in steel and coffee.
Forbes ranked him Thailand's 10th richest individual in 2024.
Golf is a major Thai tourism draw, particularly among enthusiasts from Europe, Japan and South Korea.
However the sport is often criticised by environmental campaigners because it converts tracts of wilderness into pruned grass greens requiring intensive watering.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
B. Grimm Urges Faster ASEAN Energy Integration To Harness Laos' Hydro And Malaysia's Solar Capacities
B. Grimm's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Harald Link speaks to Bernama recently at Sama-Sama Hotel, on Thai energy giant B. Grimm's planned RM4.26 billion investment in Malaysia's renewable energy sector, including the expansion of major solar power projects. Thailand's multinational power conglomerate, B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd, is set to expand its presence in Malaysia with an investment exceeding US$1 billion (RM4.26 billion) in the country's rapidly growing renewable energy and power sectors over the coming years, particularly through the development of large-scale solar plants. Link said the move is driven by the strong bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries and B. Grimm's longstanding relationship with Malaysia, spanning over two decades. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED B. Grimm's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Harald Link poses for a photo after speaking to Bernama at Sama-Sama Hotel recently, regarding Thai energy giant B. Grimm's plan to invest RM4.26 billion in Malaysia's renewable energy sector, including the expansion of major solar power projects. Thailand's multinational power conglomerate, B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd, is set to expand its presence in Malaysia with an investment exceeding US$1 billion (RM4.26 billion) in the country's rapidly growing renewable energy and power sectors over the coming years, particularly through the development of large-scale solar plants. Link said the move is driven by the strong bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries and B. Grimm's longstanding relationship with Malaysia, spanning over two decades. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED B. Grimm Urges Faster ASEAN Energy Integration To Harness Laos' Hydro And Malaysia's Solar Capacities By Harizah Hanim Mohamed KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) – The groundwork for ASEAN energy integration has long been laid, but sharper focus and faster action are needed to propel renewable energy to the next level by harnessing each member's strengths, said B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd. B. Grimm, a multinational conglomerate rooted in Thailand for 147 years, has a strong footing in ASEAN, with operations in the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. B. Grimm chairman and chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Harald Link, pointed out that Laos has vast hydropower resources, while Malaysia has abundant solar power potential, both of which should be tapped further by establishing a stronger interconnected grid from diverse sources. 'When you look at the ASEAN grid, each country has different strengths. Laos, for example, is the only country in the region with abundant hydropower potential. So, it makes sense for Laos to capitalise on that by exporting electricity to Thailand, Malaysia and even Singapore, and earn revenue in the process. But for that to happen, the grid needs to be in place, and the interconnections must be upgraded,' he told Bernama recently. The interview was held after Link was awarded the Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP), which carries the title 'Datuk Seri', in conjunction with the 66th birthday of the Sultan of Pahang at Balai Mahkota, Istana Abdulaziz, on July 28, 2025. The Thailand-Peninsular Malaysia interconnection was established and has been in service since June 2002, with a 300 MW capacity and was constructed to connect Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia via a grid-to-grid 300 kV HVDC overhead transmission line. The existing interconnection spans around 110 km from a substation in Khlong Ngae, Thailand, to Gurun East in Malaysia, which Link described as being 'a very old line.' Commenting on Malaysia's role in pushing for an interconnection grid upgrade, Link highlighted that Malaysia's Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) is pushing hard for the interconnection grid upgrade. 'B. Grimm has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with TNB, which will purchase hydropower from Laos through us to Malaysia, but that MOU is waiting for the ASEAN grid or Thailand-Malaysia grid to be upgraded,' Link said. In 2023, TNB signed deals with three major energy players in Thailand to develop regional infrastructure for RE. TNB, through its subsidiary, TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd, partnered with to look into opportunities for collaboration for the development of renewable power projects in Southeast Asia. Across ASEAN, B. Grimm's footprint is visible; it operates solar farms in the Philippines and Vietnam. B. Grimm built the largest solar farm in Southeast Asia in 2018, alongside a distribution network. In Cambodia, partnered with Chinese state-owned contractors and constructed a second solar farm. In Laos, operates three hydropower plants, contributing to the country's RE mix. On the ASEAN energy mix, Link has proposed to build many hydro plants in Laos and set up a grid to transmit that power, even to Malaysia. 'It makes more sense to buy the power rather than generate it locally if you don't have the resources yourself. At the same time, I would also strongly develop solar farms, because solar energy is something Malaysia has and it's free,' he added. All in all, Link reckons that the ASEAN Economic Community Plan should bring real benefits to the member countries, with the free movement of people and money, as well as no territorial conflict. 'Like in the European Union (EU), citizens didn't care if they were in Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, or France; they could move freely, find jobs, and live wherever they wanted. 'Lesser developed countries received central funding. Portugal, for example, used to be very poor, but received a lot of money from Brussels. You might get the occasional disagreement, but nothing destructive. 'The European Union has been a great peacemaker. ASEAN should aim for the same. So yes, I truly believe these unions, whether ASEAN or the EU, bring real benefits for every single person,' he concluded. -- BERNAMA
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Thai government launches crypto-to-Baht scheme to boost tourism
BANGKOK: The Thai government is set to launch a new scheme on Monday (Aug 18) to revitalise its tourism industry by allowing foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into Thai Baht for payments. The initiative, named "TouristDigiPay," is a direct response to a significant slowdown in tourism this year, primarily due to a decline in visitors from China. The details of the programme will be unveiled at a press conference led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, alongside key officials from the Finance Ministry, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The concept of using cryptocurrency to stimulate tourism has been under continuous review by the government. The SEC recently completed a public consultation on the use of financial innovation and digital assets to support economic and tourism growth, with the feedback period closing on Wednesday (Aug 13). Under the new regulations, foreign tourists wishing to convert digital assets into baht for spending must open an account with a digital asset business and an e-money provider, both of which are regulated by the SEC and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) respectively. The scheme will operate within a regulatory 'sandbox' to ensure proper oversight and risk management, particularly to prevent the direct use of digital assets as a means of payment. Only foreign tourists temporarily staying in Thailand will be eligible to use the service. Participants must undergo stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) and customer due diligence (CDD) checks, in line with AMLO's criteria. The service will enable tourists to exchange their digital assets for baht and make electronic payments, such as through QR code scanning. - The Nation/ANN
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Thai police seize Malaysian-registered Vellfire in cross-border drug bust
SUNGAI GOLOK: Thai police seized a Malaysian-registered Toyota Vellfire MPV among 13 assets worth nearly RM2 million in a cross-border drug syndicate crackdown. The raids which began on Thursday targeted five locations around Sungai Golok, involving the Narcotics Control Board Region 9, Region 9 police and the Southern Border Special Operations Centre, reported Kosmo. Several suspects were arrested, while others fled. Police are continuing their hunt. The operation followed last month's arrest of a dealer with 650kg of syabu in Ban LuBo Kong, Pasemas, Sungai Golok. Authorities seized luxury cars, high-powered motorcycles, jet skis and firearms in the raid. One MPV carried a Malaysian plate number. Thai police said they would work with Malaysian police to widen investigations into the cross-border network.
