On May 21, 2015, the mayor of the Sam Roi Yot Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province publicly denied any involvement in the alleged illegal transport and sale of sand from a dredging site in the subdistrict. The incident, he asserted, was the work of certain government officials acting without authorization and potentially for personal gain.
The matter came to light following reports that sand dredged from the mouth of Khlong Nong Khao Niao and Khlong Nong Kham Yai, initially part of a lawful and approved infrastructure project, had been diverted for unauthorized sale to villagers. According to officials, the dredging initiative was launched in response to complaints from local fishermen, who were unable to navigate through the area due to significant sediment accumulation blocking boat passage. The SAO had allocated a budget and obtained legal clearance from the Marine Department before beginning work on the project.
The SAO’s mayor explained that once allegations of misconduct emerged, the organization immediately opened an internal investigation and submitted a formal request to the Prachuap Khiri Khan Regional Harbor Office for an urgent inquiry. Preliminary findings suggest potential collusion between contractors and some local officials to sell the dredged sand illicitly.
The mayor emphasized that the SAO has no policy supporting such activities and condemned any misuse of public resources. He pledged full cooperation with relevant authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible. “Legal action must be taken without exception if any wrongdoing is confirmed,” he stated, adding that transparency and accountability remain top priorities to safeguard the community’s trust.
Following completion of the dredging, the removed sand had been temporarily stored roadside in accordance with procedural norms. It was later discovered that a portion of this sand had been unlawfully transported and sold to private individuals for landfilling purposes, bypassing official authorization and oversight.
Officials present at the time of the announcement included representatives from the Marine Department and local oversight bodies involved in the investigation.
