The Koh Samui council has filed a complaint against a network of fake building permits after an employee finally confessed to participating in the falsification of public documents. Severe sanctions are now being demanded and an online system will be put in place to plug the loopholes and prevent any recurrence. The mayor fears the collapse of a villa that would tarnish the island’s international image.
On 23 March 2026, Pallop Mipiao, legal expert for the Koh Samui council, filed a complaint with the local police against a corrupt network producing fake building permits (form A.1). These documents perfectly imitate the municipal seal and forge the signatures of all officials, from neighbourhood engineers right up to that of the mayor.
The initial investigation led to the confession of an employee who admitted to starting these practices in October 2025. The network targeted villa developers or large building projects rushed for time or reluctant to amend their plans to meet official standards. Intermediaries promised to ‘sort everything out’ for a fee.
On the disciplinary front, the council has referred the matter to the disciplinary office for forwarding to the Office for the Promotion of Local Administration (G.T.J.) in Surat Thani province. These serious acts, potentially involving bribes, result in either revocation or outright dismissal.
Ramnet Jaikwang, Mayor of the Koh Samui council, stated:
« This incident concerns not only documents, but public safety. These buildings have not been inspected by municipal engineers. A collapse would ruin Samui’s global tourism image. »
The mayor has ordered a merciless pursuit of the network and a full retrospective inspection, already estimating more than 10 suspicious cases. The officials whose signatures were forged have also filed complaints.
To prevent recurrences, the council is going digital: online submissions, file verification, and mandatory progress photos from contractors every 15 days. Article 39ter of the Building Control Act (official link, page 12) will be widely applied to fast-track projects certified by qualified architects and engineers, while maintaining strict on-site controls and closing the door to future extortion.
Local journalists note that this case could reveal a much larger local corruption network than a mere isolated misdemeanour. The safety of illegally built villas remains a serious threat to international tourist confidence.
For years, we have covered the activities of “real estate crooks” in Koh Samui. Shady developers often use dirty money for property projects aimed at large-scale money laundering, frequently ignoring environmental standards and employing these very intermediaries to obtain building permits. Some, highly aggressive, act like a mafia and threaten to silence any criticism.
Meanwhile, some projects are simply abandoned midway. Left undemolished, they pollute the island’s natural spaces, which are suffocating a little more each day.
Matichon