Samui mystery tunnel shut off

SURAT THANI: Officers have closed off a mysterious mountain tunnel on Koh Samui, waiting for a company which owns the land to show them its permit to build it.

The 84-metre-long tunnel was inadvertently found by a foreign tourist who was trekking in Ban Tai of tambon Mae Nam on Koh Samui district last week.

The discovery prompted authorities to try to find out who made it.

Koh Samui municipality legal officer Pallop Meepian said the tunnel, which is 3.5 metres high and 3.5m wide, connected two land plots -- four rai and three rai each -- in tambon Mae Nam. The land plots belong to Ban Tai Beach Co and the land title deeds were issued lawfully, he said.

A probe found no evidence that the company sought a permit from Koh Samui municipality to build the tunnel, he said, adding the company is required to show proof of the construction permit.

If they are unable to present the permit, they will have violated the Building Control Act, Mr Pallop said.

"Anyone who does not seek a permit before carrying out construction could be punished with a jail term of up to three months or/both a fine of up to 60,000 baht," said Mr Pallop.

A notice would be put up at the site to restrict access and the company will be given time to present its construction permit, he added.

The land plots also connect with another nine land plots, which are believed to cater to planned resort homes for sale, he said. One end of the tunnel overlooks the sea.

However, construction of the resort homes appears to have been shelved, he added.

Ban Tai Beach Co was registered with capital of 10 million baht on June 9, 2003, he said.

The firm has three shareholders, comprising two individuals and a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, he said.