Two locals were arrested by the marine police recently for illegally collecting corals on Koh Mat Kong off the coast of Samui. Pol. Lt. Col. Siracha Kerdsri of the Samui marine police said residents of Baan Koh Taen tipped off police about the presence of three people gathering corals on the beach of Koh Mat Kong.

A team from the Marine Police was dispatched to the island. Two long-tail boats were found docked on the island official and there people were seen scouring the beach for corals.
When they saw the people, the three scampered away. Two people were caught after a brief chase. They were identified as Prayong Rangoun, 29, and Kriangsak Khotkoson, 21, both residents of Donsak sub district in the mainland.

Both were caught in possession of about 1,400 kilograms of corals.

The third suspect, later identified as.Wanchai Rangoun, 30, escaped, police said.

At the police station, Prayong said Wanchai had been contacted by a businessman in Donsak who offered to buy corals at Bt100 per bag. Wanchai, he said, convinced him and Kriangsak to help him gather corals to be sold to the Donsak middleman.

Col. Siracha said gathering of corals from these offshore islands is prohibited.