Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation

[webfact]

 

The owners of a recently annihilated fireworks depo in Narathiwat yesterday handed themselves over to the police. This revelation was announced by an on-scene informant who wished to remain unnamed.

 

The owners, Sompong Napol and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, both 42, made their way back into Thai territory through the Sadao checkpoint connecting Thailand and Malaysia. This development came on the heels of the local police initiating warrants for the couple’s arrest. The warrants relate to an unfortunate incident on July 29 when their warehouse filled with fireworks exploded in the Muno area, a district of Sungai Kolok.

 

The catastrophic explosion resulted in 12 casualties, with 121 individuals sustaining injuries, alongside causing damage to 292 houses nearby.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Picture courtesy of กู้ภัยเมตตาธรรมนราธิวาส Facebook

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-fireworks-depot-owners-surrender-following-fatal-explosion-investigation

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-08-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

[webfact]

Fireworks Warehouse Owners Arrested in Songkhla Province
by Natthaphon  Sangpolsit

 

SONGKHLA (NNT) - The owners of the fireworks warehouse that exploded on July 29, which claimed 12 lives, injured 121 people, and damaged 292 houses, were arrested at SadaoImmigration Checkpoint in Songkhla province on Saturday (5 Aug).

 

Immigration authorities reported that the owners of the warehouse, identified as Sompong Nakul and Piyanuch Peungwirawat, were taken into custody as they crossed the border from Malaysia. The suspects were apprehended swiftly by local police after being flagged by the immigration center’s detection system, which had them under arrest warrant.

 

The suspects were taken to the police station in Sadao and questioned by local police and officers from Narathiwat’s Muno District. They were set to be transported to Muno Police Station, which has direct jurisdiction over the case, with Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn expected to personally monitor the interrogation.

 

In addition to last month’s tragic incident, the couple’s association with a previous incident in 2016 has also raised concerns. They were arrested for storing and selling 60 tonnes of fireworks and flammable materials without a permit, but the case was not taken to the provincial court, leading to questions about potential corruption and irregularities.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230806130349260

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-08-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

[webfact]

Fireworks warehouse owners charged on four counts

 

Police have filed charges of negligence causing death and injury, illegal modification of a building, illegal importation of fireworks and breaching the state of emergency decree against the couple who own the fireworks warehouse in Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat, which exploded on July 29th.

 

Sompong Na Phon and Piyanut Poengveerawat surrendered to immigration police in Sadao district of Songkhla province yesterday (Saturday) and were then escorted to Muno sub-district police station in Su-ngai Kolok district.

 

During initial questioning in Sadao, Piyanut reportedly told the police that she used to be a sales representative, selling fireworks for a company in Hat Yai district, before her marriage to Sompong.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/fireworks-warehouse-owners-charged-on-four-counts/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-08-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

[hotchilli]

Plenty of time for them to move assets around before surrendering?

[ChrisY1]

Now that they've surrendered, all that remains is to work out some petty compensation deals.....maybe a little time locked up to keep the masses happy.

[Elkski]

So no real issue with 60 tons before  probably a few big brown bags so they got bolder. 

[Tropicalevo]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The warrants relate to an unfortunate incident on July 29

I suspect that it is bit more than an unfortunate incident.

They have been bringing 'explosives' into an area where there are angry insurgents killing people. The smuggling has been going on for some years as have the bombings.

 

Quote

Suspected insurgents detonated a car bomb at a road junction in Su-ngai Kolok, Narathiwat province late Saturday night, but no one was injured.

 

[gomangosteen]

Surrendered? Thai Daily News reports otherwise, not a 'voluntary surrender' according to their report with accompanying video:

 

Malay police detain owners of fireworks warehouse and hand over to the Thai authorities. 

5 August 2023
Malaysian police have detained Mr. Sompong Na Pol (Sia Wai) and Miss Piyanuch Puengwirawat (Je Lin) the couple who own the warehouse where fireworks exploded; they were handed over to Thai authorities at the Sadao border post, Songkla. They are currently in detention at Sadao Police Station to prepare for transfer to Muno Police Station, Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat.

Edited August 7, 2023 by gomangosteen

[brianthainess]

Trying to make out the RTP got 'em BS.

Well done to the Malaysian cops. 

[brianthainess]

Are they out on bail yet?

[Bangkok Barry]

The headline says they surrendered. They did not. They were arrested after they re-entered Thailand and immigration alerted the local police. Another report says that they were arrested by Malaysian police. So, the usual Thai standard of journalism where no-one seems to bother checking the facts.

 

So take your pick. They

1 - surrendered

2 - were arrested by Thai police

3 - were arrested by Malaysian police

Edited August 7, 2023 by Bangkok Barry