A part of a beachfront mansion and tourist attraction is being demolished after it was ruled to have encroached on public land by the Thai Administrative Court.

Building A of the Ban Sukhawadee complex in Pattaya, Thailand, is being torn down by local officials after the Administrative Court rejected the operator's appeal for an injunction.

Staff led by Suriya Kaewkhiao, the director of the Building Control Subdivision of the Pattaya City Administrative Organisation, began demolishing the elaborate two-storey structure - with gleaming tiled floors, ornate chandeliers, and gilded columns and decor - on May 30.

Footage shows workers dismantling the tiles using hammers and backhoes after cutting off water and electricity.

A lawyer for Ban Sukhawadee monitored the process, appealing to slow down the demolition.

Health Foods International (Thailand) Co Ltd., the owner of the property, had said that the building was constructed on land formed through natural processes, and that they had rightful ownership over it through a title deed. Their argument was rejected by the Administrative Court, leading to the demolition order.

Building A sits on a 4.5-acre plot of land reclaimed from the sea, and is part of the sprawling 32-acre complex.

Local officials said two other structures - Buildings C and B - in Ban Sukhawadee were built without permission.

Building C had been renovated to comply with laws concerning distance to the sea. Action on Building B is still pending a court decision, authorities said.

Chris Cherdsuriya, head of the Pattaya's building control department, said the issue was a long-standing dispute between local authorities and Ban Sukhawadee.

He said: 'The demolition order for the building has been up since 2020, but the owner refused to comply. Pattaya City officials were forced to take action to avoid being penalised for neglecting their duties.'

The demolition is expected to take between three to seven days.

Chris said expenses will be charged to estate owner Panya Chotitawan, also the owner of Saha Farms Co Ltd, a major Thai exporter of frozen poultry.