A villa in a Koh Tao resort built without permission has been ordered closed by local authorities.
The villa, built on a rocks with direct access to the sea, belongs to Cape Shark Villas, a luxury resort with over 30 pool villas on its hilltop property in the island's south.
The 48m² building -- called the Hideaway Villa-- became an issue when a netizen made a complaint on the Facebook page of an anti-corruption club in the province, questioning if the villa's construction was legal.
Surat Thani's governor said that every inch of Koh Tao island belongs to the Treasury Department.
He said the authorities had investigated whether the resort had received permission to build the villa and the resort.
The mayor of Koh Tao municipality said the municipality initially found the resort had not asked permission before constructing the villa.
An official on Thursday put an announcement on the villa's door saying it had to be closed.
The municipality would investigate whether the resort was built without permission. Cape Shark Pool Villa Company was founded in May 2016.
