ReportTawatchai was investigated after complaints were filed about the land deeds of more than 1,000 plots of state land in Phuket being illegally registered. Initially a DSI official said he hanged himself by creating a noose with his shirt. However, it is speculated that many people wanted to silence Tawatchai as he had signed illegal land-deed registration documents for more than 1,000 plots of public land valued at over Bt10 billion. If these plots were found to have been unlawfully registered, the land deeds would be revoked, resulting in huge losses to the illegal landowners.He is survived by his wife - not officially married - and children. It is also estimated that he made at least Bt100 million in kickbacks from illegally registering land deeds.

Source: The Nation Bangkok September 01, 2016 17:15 UTC