On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, at 11:30 a.m., the PACC, under the direction of Mr. Bhumivisan Kasemsuk, Secretary-General of the PACC, Pol. Lt. Col. Siripong Sritula, Deputy Secretary-General of the PACC, and Pol. Lt. Col. Sarawut Khamlueang, Director of the Anti-Corruption Administration Division, together with PACC officials from the Anti-Corruption Administration Division and Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, Region 1, integrated their efforts with Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Anek Taosupap, Commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Supppression Division. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Royal Forest Department, the National Office of Buddhism, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Saraburi Provincial Office, and the Saraburi Land Reform Office. The joint task force conducted a field inspection to examine the land occupancy status of Wat Pa Rak Jai, Ariya Village, Wat Pa Chana Jai, Rak Jai International Buddhist Center, and Pha Chana Jai, located in Nong Yang Suea Subdistrict, Muak Lek District, extending into Wang Muang District, Saraburi Province

The operation followed reports received by the PACC from local residents alleging that a forest temple or monastic retreat, presenting itself as being led by monks and nuns, had encroached upon and occupied forest land in the area.

Upon inspection, authorities found that Wat Pa Rak Jai had solicited donations through social media platforms to raise funds for land adjustments and road construction. The temple was also found to have excavated and relocated trees from public land for landscaping within the temple grounds. Heavy machinery had reportedly been brought into the area to level the land for construction purposes, clear trees to build access roads extending into forest areas, and carry out extensive land modification. In addition, the temple had invited the public to purchase monks’ residences either as offerings to the temple or for personal meditation retreats at a price of 500,000 baht per unit. It had also constructed a 10-kilometer access road to the Rak Jai International Buddhist Center at a reported cost of 3.3 million baht. Most of these activities involved construction and land development within Agricultural Land Reform areas (ALRO land), for which the Land Reform Office had not granted authorization to any party.

Regarding this inspection operation, authorities reported the following findings: Site 1, Wat Pa Rak Jai was located within an Agricultural Land Reform area covering approximately 13 rai. Official records (ALRO Form Sor Por Kor 4-01) indicated the name of an individual who had been granted permission to utilize the land. However, the authorized individual had not made use of the land as permitted. Subsequently, Wat Pa Rak Jai entered and occupied the area in 2023. Authorities found that additional structures had been constructed beyond those previously associated with the original permit holder. Sites 2 to 4, Ariya Village, Wat Pa Chana Jai, Rak Jai International Buddhist Center, and Pha Chana Jai were also located within the Agricultural Land Reform area. At the time of inspection, no authorization had been granted to any individual or entity to utilize the land in these locations.

In this regard, the legal status of the land was determined to constitute encroachment upon ALRO land in violation of the Agricultural Land Reform Act B.E. 2518 (1975), as amended. The actions were also found to be in breach of Section 54 of the Forest Act B.E. 2484 (1941). Furthermore, the forest temple had not been legally registered as a juristic person under applicable law and therefore was regarded as an unauthorized monastic residence that had not received proper approval from the ecclesiastical governing authority. The construction activities carried out on the site were also found to be non-compliant with the relevant building control and construction permit laws.