On March 21, 2026, the Koh Samui district in Surat Thani province was shaken by an official announcement shared on social media by Mr. Pallop Miapiao, a lawyer at the Nakhon Koh Samui Municipality. He urged owners of villas, buildings, and tourism operators to immediately check the validity of their construction permits (Form A.1), following the discovery of an actual network falsifying official documents within the public works department (gong chang).
This scandal involving “ghost permits” is causing deep concern among residents and investors on the island, especially regarding the structural integrity and safety of many luxury villas — often foreign-owned — built on steep slopes or elevated terrain. These buildings have not undergone mandatory structural and stability inspections, raising fears of potential collapses that could result in loss of life and property, particularly among tourists.
Contacted for comment, Koh Samui Mayor Mr. Ramnet Chaikwang confirmed the facts and described the situation as “unacceptable”. He announced the immediate establishment of a severe disciplinary investigation committee against the involved official.
“I affirm that anyone involved, regardless of rank, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent if the evidence confirms it. Officials whose signatures were forged are already going to the Koh Samui police station to file complaints and prove their innocence,” stated the Mayor of Koh Samui.
As early as January 20, 2026, a municipal official had filed a police complaint in Koh Samui for forgery of his signature on official documents, without any delegation of authority having been granted.
According to consistent sources from the public works department and confirmed by the new investigation, a female official exploited administrative loopholes to forge the signatures of five superiors (technical managers, engineers, and plan verifiers) to make dossiers appear fully approved. The documents were then submitted directly to the municipal secretary-general and the mayor for final approval, bypassing real inspections. In exchange for this “shortcut”, she allegedly received bribes amounting to several hundred thousand baht per file (over 100,000 THB according to initial estimates, potentially much higher). At least ten suspect permits have already been identified during random checks.
Suspicions of complicity at higher levels, including within the municipal administration, continue to circulate, although the mayor has promised full transparency and no exceptions in sanctions.
Between 2024 and 2025 (Buddhist years 2567-2568), an investigation unit involving GOR 4 (4th Military Region), the Auditor General’s Office, Thailand’s Office of the Ombudsman (CSC), the Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies inspected — as part of the now-dissolved “Samui Model” — more than a hundred irregular constructions. Several included illegally granted permits in prohibited zones or in violation of environmental standards. Multiple court cases are still ongoing.
This new scandal further damages the island’s image regarding compliance with urban planning and environmental regulations.