Police to prosecute Mountain B owner for negligence over locked exits

[webfact]

Picture: SanookSanook reported that the Thai police were gathering evidence to prosecute the owner of the Mountain B pub in Sattahip for negligence causing death because of locked exits.

 

This as the manageress claimed that the exits were not locked at the facility where 14 died and dozens were injured in a horrific fire on Thursday night. 

 

Former immigration chief and now RTP advisor Pol Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang went to the site of the tragedy and was told by investigators there that exits were indeed locked.

 

The owner will face the negligence causing death charges and operating without a licence as well as illegally adapting the building.

 

There could even be other charges, said the media. 

 

Sompong said a committee of investigation had been established. 

 

Civil engineers have already determied that Mountain B did not conform to standards. 

 

Sompong said he had no information about police being involved in illegal activity in relation to Mountain B but the committee would investigate that. 

 

He said all pub owners should think about the safety of customers and not flouting rules with backhanders to the authorities. 

 

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[Excel]

Just now, webfact said:

Sompong said he had no information about police being involved in illegal activity in relation to Mountain B but the committee would investigate that

Well we all know what the outcome will be.

[ThailandRyan]

Guess they won't name him or her ever...next we will here is that the owner was one of the victims who perished.

[lujanit]

Anyone remember the Santika night club fire in Bangkok in 2009?  Fire door (s) were also locked.  Reasons accelerating the fire sound strangely familiar.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santika_Club_fire

[scubascuba3]

Manageress says they weren't locked

[kcpattaya]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Sompong said he had no information about police being involved in illegal activity in relation to Mountain B but the committee would investigate that. 

Investigation results: EVERY pub/bar/club has "ties" to the police.
Mountain B will certainly NOT be an exception.

[John Drake]

Owner's name, please.

[ThailandRyan]

1 minute ago, John Drake said:

Owner's name, please.

Mr. Mountain B

[John Drake]

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

Mr. Mountain B

I fear that that is about as close to the name as we will ever see.

[Excel]

9 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Owner's name, please.

Not released but would not be surprised if it were a high ranking Thai Royal Naval person so hence we will never hear.

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, Excel said:

Not released but would not be surprised if it were a high ranking Thai Royal Naval person so hence we will never hear.

The videos are so gruesome I don't see how they can cover it up. The man engulfed in flames crumpling to the parking lot in the background. The young girl with several fires sprouting around her back, neck, and face. The young man walking by calmly apparently unaware that his back has been burnt badly. It was like watching survivors from the Hindenburg. 

[NE1]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He said all pub owners should think about the safety of customers and not flouting rules with backhanders to the authorities. 

 

Wonder how that will work out for them ?

[Excel]

Just now, John Drake said:

The videos are so gruesome I don't see how they can cover it up. The man engulfed in flames crumpling to the parking lot in the background. The young girl with several fires sprouting around her back, neck, and face. The young man walking by calmly apparently unaware that his back has been burnt badly. It was like watching survivors from the Hindenburg. 

Yes terrible video I agree. They can cover up anything here when they put their mind to it.

[internationalism]

police is already covering the owner with contradicting statements:

"Pol Maj Gen Attasit Kijjaharn, chief of Chonburi provincial police, said Friday that initial investigation discovered that uncertain whether the rear door was locked as the press earlier reported or not as the padlock wasn't found and further investigation is needed."

 

"Deputy Police Chief Pol Lt Gen said on Friday after further investigation on Mountain B pub fire which now claims 14 lives that at least one exit door was locked when the fire occurred after 1am Friday in Chonburi province. He said it's unclear how many exit doors existed and whether more than one exit doors have been locked." - in this quotation name of this cop is missing, probably by mistake.

quotations are from khaosod english fb 

 

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Manageress says they weren't locked

Who do you believe?

[Excel]

Not sure if we can quote and link "Pattaya News" so apologies to mods and I won't link if not allowed but they have just published a report that states 5 senior Sattahip police officers including the Chief have been transferred to Chonburi Police HQ for allowing the place to keep operating.  They are named in that article.

[AndyFoxy]

12 minutes ago, John Drake said:

The videos are so gruesome I don't see how they can cover it up. The man engulfed in flames crumpling to the parking lot in the background. The young girl with several fires sprouting around her back, neck, and face. The young man walking by calmly apparently unaware that his back has been burnt badly. It was like watching survivors from the Hindenburg. 

The thing that got me is no one is trying to help put the fires on their body out. How about taking one’s shirt off and trying to beat out the flames.

[Excel]

Just now, AndyFoxy said:

The thing that got me is no one is trying to help put the fires on their body out. How about taking one’s shirt off and trying to beat out the flames.

Whilst that may seem strange and uncaring then considering the time of day and the type of establishment perhaps many of them were simply blind drunk, high on pot or other drugs and hence had little grip on reality

[mikeymike100]

3 minutes ago, Excel said:

Not sure if we can quote and link "Pattaya News" so apologies to mods and I won't link if not allowed but they have just published a report that states 5 senior Sattahip police officers including the Chief have been transferred to Chonburi Police HQ for allowing the place to keep operating.  They are named in that article.

So the "Police" knew it was operating illegally? They just took the money and turned a blind eye?

If that is can be proven, they should be indicted too.

[Excel]

1 minute ago, mikeymike100 said:

So the "Police" knew it was operating illegally? They just took the money and turned a blind eye?

If that is can be proven, they should be indicted too.

Should but won't 

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

The thing that got me is no one is trying to help put the fires on their body out. How about taking one’s shirt off and trying to beat out the flames.

A lot of very young people all around. In shock. Can't accept what is happening. And crowds need someone to lead. Had just one person taken the initiative, maybe a better result. But there is one thing. After the initial fire, when you see people coming out and on fire, there is a lapse of a few moments before a second, larger explosion occurs. People might have been just too afraid to move towards the building.

[Will B Good]

You are never going to be protected in Thailand by rules and regulations.......your only option is to take personal responsibility for your own safety.

 

I mentally have a PEP for every place I go and if I'm not happy I leave. 

 

Many night clubs, and massage parlors in particular, are death traps

[darksidedog]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

He said all pub owners should think about the safety of customers and not flouting rules with backhanders to the authorities. 

That's a pretty naive statement. Pretty much every bar everywhere pays the cops, so to suggest everyone suddenly stop doing so is unrealistic.

It's a shame that news media here cover the original events, but rarely will you ever see them at the court finding out the verdict of any criminal proceedings.

[Bangkok Barry]

46 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Owner's name, please.

In my native UK I believe that anyone can look up a register to see who owns a company as well as other info about it. But even if such a system exists in Thailand I doubt that it would be much use as it would only show a pretend owner, a front man, if a VIP was behind it. Thailand excels in smoke and mirrors. Add to that the libel laws whose sole purpose is to protect the guilty.....

[anchadian]

26 minutes ago, Excel said:

Not sure if we can quote and link "Pattaya News" so apologies to mods and I won't link if not allowed but they have just published a report that states 5 senior Sattahip police officers including the Chief have been transferred to Chonburi Police HQ for allowing the place to keep operating.  They are named in that article.

Five senior Sattahip police officers, including a chief, transferred in the aftermath of Mountain B nightclub fire
https://thepattayanews.com/2022/08/06/five-senior-sattahip-police-officers-including-a-chief-transferred-in-the-aftermath-of-mountain-b-nightclub-fire/

[Card]

47 minutes ago, Excel said:

Yes terrible video I agree. They can cover up anything here when they put their mind to it.

I can't fathom how the uninjured make no attempt to douse the flames on those affected. Absolutely no consideration for anything except themselves.

[anchadian]

Mountain B owned by  Ms Thanyapat Sornsuwanhiran 

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/thailand-fire-least-13-dead-27663422

[John Drake]

8 minutes ago, anchadian said:

Mountain B owned by  Ms Thanyapat Sornsuwanhiran 

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/thailand-fire-least-13-dead-27663422

aljazeera says that person is a waitress. Could she be an owner and a waitress? And Bangkok Post is identifying her as a pub supervisor.

"A waitress at the venue, Thanyapat Sornsuwanhiran, also told Thai television reporters that she saw smoke near the stage.

“I shouted ‘fire’ to customers, and I was near the doors, so I directed them out. I kept shouting ‘fire, fire’ and the security guards were also helping lead people out,” she said."

 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/5/fire-at-a-club-in-eastern-thailand-kills-at-least-13

[ThailandRyan]

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

aljazeera says that person is a waitress. Could she be an owner and a waitress? "

A waitress at the venue, Thanyapat Sornsuwanhiran, also told Thai television reporters that she saw smoke near the stage.

“I shouted ‘fire’ to customers, and I was near the doors, so I directed them out. I kept shouting ‘fire, fire’ and the security guards were also helping lead people out,” she said."

 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/5/fire-at-a-club-in-eastern-thailand-kills-at-least-13

A owner only by proxy and one to be thrown under the bus to direct views elsewhere, the way of Thailand...

[champers]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

I fear that that is about as close to the name as we will ever see.

It is published today in the main story on the Bangkok Post's front page. It will be in the paper's online version too, if you really need to know.