PHUKET: Nine people claimed a stretch of valuable property along Phuket's prime beaches that they say was created by offshore tin mining, Department of Special investigation officers heard today.

The DSI detachment, under Deputy Director Lt Colonel Pong-in Intarakhao. was led to the disputed land by Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, who told the investigators that the claim was now being considered by the Supreme Court.

The foreshore land along Laypang and Layan beaches would be extremely valuable if the court rules in favor of the nine. Comparative maps showed the area as it was decades ago, at the time of tin mining, and today.

The DSI team also looked at paperwork connected to better-known claims of encroachment that involve three luxurious Phuket resorts bordering on Sirinath National Park and three more properties alleged to be privately owned.

Four sets of documents relating to the controversial properties have been delivered to the DSI while two more sets have yet to be completed.

The saga over the disputed land on the Sirinath National Park border has been running for several years without clarity being established on whether encroachments occurred.

Investigators say that the difficulty is in establishing if a transgression took place and when and then who conspired in the deception.

The point continues to be made that the present owners in some cases may have had no knowledge about historic corrupt land frauds.

On Saturday the DSI investigators will probe two land deals on Kho Yao Yai, one involving a man named today as Mr Valentino.