The others are all senior officials and VIPs, according to an official report by the Special Investigation Division.

The report was leaked yesterday. It also named Boonsri Pinkayan and Lalin Pinkayan, and high-ranking Pollution Control Department officials including former directors-general Pakit Keeravanit and Sirithan Pairoj-Boriboon.

Mr. Vatana yesterday denied all charges, suggesting that the case against him and people close to him was politically motivated.

The SID is expected to seek arrest warrants for the 10 people for their roles in the acquisition of over 1,900 rai of land for the construction of the wastewater treatment facility in tambon Klong Dan, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan.

The land was sold to the former Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment at 1,030,000 baht per rai even though nearby land at the time sold for about 100,000 baht per rai. Mr. Vatana was alleged to have used his authority while serving as deputy interior minister from 1988-1990 to persuade officials of the Land Department to issue title deeds
to the land which included a public garbage dumpsite, two public canals and a mangrove forest.

A high-level source said Mr. Vatana’s brother Somporn, Ms. Boonsri and Ms. Lalin would be cited as major shareholders of Palm Beach Development Co. which was accused of accumulating public land and illegally obtaining title deeds for the land.

Ms. Boonsri and Ms. Lalin are closely related to Subin Pinkayan, late veteran politician ofthe Social Action party.

“Mr. Vatana was not a shareholder of Klong Dan Marine and Fishery Co. Ltd., which sold the land to the state.

“This case was built from the point that Palm Beach, with which Mr. Vatana had close ties, illegally obtained title deeds,” the source said.

Palm Beach sold the land to Klong Dan Marine and Fishery, which sold it to the Pollution Control Department.

Ex-pollution control chief Pakit was allegedly a key person. He initiated the project and reportedly modified the original plan for two plants to a large single plant. The change pushed the cost up from 13 billion to 23 billion baht.

Mr. Pakit also allegedly advised four construction companies to include a design with only one treatment plant as an alternative, while cabinet was still calling for a project with two plants.

The source said witnesses would testify in court against Mr. Vatana.

Mr. Vatana yesterday warned the authorities to be careful in their investigation.

“It wouldn’t be right to implicate innocent people,” he said. “I don’t know why my associates and I are targeted.

This could be politically motivated.”He and his associates formed a company over a decade
ago to buy about 900 rai of land, not for the wastewater plant but for sale to a golf course development company, apparently referring to Palm Beach. He received no more than 100,000 baht a rai from the sale.

All documents to the land were legally issued and endorsed by land, harbour and highways officials. He denied using his authority while deputy interior minister to obtain the legal land documents.

“I had no authority over the Land Department then,” he said.

Arrest warrants will also be sought for two other senior pollution control officials, former deputy chief Nisakorn Kositrattana and Yuwaree In-na, formerly director of water quality management.

None of the officials mentioned returned requests for comment.