A Thai magnate sentenced to 24 years in prison for having grown his golf course in a natural reserve

A Thai court sentenced a billionaire businessman to 24 years in prison for having grown his luxurious golf complex at the expense of a nature reserve, local media said.

The Prayudh Mahagitsiri metallurgy magnate was accused in 2021 by the anti -corruption prosecutor’s office of having heard with civil servants to obtain land titles in order to enlarge its complex, the Mountain Creek Golf Resort and Residences.

This complex includes a 27-hole golf course, with an area of ​​360 hectares, in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast of Bangkok.

But justice concluded that the transaction was illegal because 30 hectares added to the project were in protected areas.

The Central Criminal Court responsible for corruption and embezzlement affected Prayudh, 79, guilty of several accusations, notably corruption and land encroachment, according to the media, on Thursday.

He was sentenced to 24 years in prison, alongside 10 other accused, including his daughter, who received a 12 -year prison sentence.

The steel and coffee entrepreneur, whose fortune is estimated at 2.6 billion dollars, according to Forbes, wants to appeal, according to the media.

The 10th fortune in Thailand was classified in 2024, according to Forbes.

Golf is one of the main tourist assets of Thailand. But this sport is often criticized by environmental defenders, because it transforms expanses of nature into greens requiring intensive watering.