PHUKET: Hundreds of rai of public land valued at billions of baht have fallen into private hands through corrupt collusion between powerful individuals and government officials, a media conference on Phuket was told yesterday.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission are teaming up to investigate the alleged breaches, spokesmen said.

The investigation has only been going on for one month and is likely to broaden as new breaches are uncovered, the investigators added, with the Department of Special Investigation likely to join.

The Secretary-General of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, Colonel Dusadi Arayawut, and the Permanent Secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Department, Chote Trachoo, spoke to the media yesterday and also visited several of the dubious properties.

Much of their investigation so far has involved hillside land around Kamala, north of Patong, Nakkerd Hill, and two beachfronts. Criminal charges will be laid if the apparent irregularities can be substantiated.

A former vice governor of Phuket is a suspect in one instance, where the investigators say a resort is being built on public forest land. Officials toured the property yesterday and noted a sign saying: ''Vice Governor's Property.''

The daughter of a former permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry also lays claim to another large chunk of 18 plots totalling 200 rai within what appears to be protected forest land.

Colonel Dusadi said: ''The appropriation of public land really intensified after the 2004 tsunami when foreign investors came to Phuket in large numbers and real estate prices rose rapidly.

''Some of this deception involves foreign investors who have structured Thai companies. Our investigation is young yet and we expect to find out a lot more as we progress.

''There is no limit to the scale of the investigation and no protection for any of those involved, no matter how powerful or influential.''

Investigators yesterday released maps that highlight the areas they are investigating.

Three pieces of land near Kathu Waterfall, with a total area of 45 rai, would be worth 1.6 billion baht once cleared for the views of Patong Bay at current Patong prices of 40 million baht a rai.

Other sections lie near Nakalay, north of Patong, and on Nakkerd Hill, which is topped by the Big Buddha.

An extensive property valued at 2.8 billion baht as a resort development fronting Freedom beach, south of Patong, continues to be a focus.

So does the Eva Beach development in Rawai, which is nearing completion, but where authorities say height regulations governing shorefront limits have been ignored.

Khun Chote said there appeared to be more corruption and real estate misdeeds on Phuket than in any other province in Thailand.

The next step will be a closer investigation of the personal finances of the officials who allegedly benefitted in endorsing the suspicious illegal ownership transfers and construction breaches.