File picture for reference only.

 

A Pattaya court has sentenced Phongsiri “B” Panprasong, owner of the Mountain B pub, and his associates to five years in prison for negligence leading to the deaths of 24 people in the 2022 fire at the venue. The court denied bail for all defendants.

 

The ruling comes following the tragic blaze that engulfed the Mountain B nightclub in Sattahip, Chonburi, on 5 August 2022. The fire claimed the lives of 13 people on the night of the incident, while 11 others succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Around 50 more sustained various degrees of injury.

 

According to lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet, head of the Justice Advocacy Foundation, the Pattaya Provincial Court delivered its verdict on 18 March 2025. The court found Phongsiri, along with an electrician, guilty of negligence causing death, sentencing them to 10 years in prison. However, as both pleaded guilty, their sentences were reduced to five years.

 

Meanwhile, Phongsiri’s wife, Anongnat Panprasong, and his father were sentenced to 10 years each. The court did not grant bail to any of the convicted individuals.

 

Following the ruling, Ronnarong stated that no action had yet been taken by victims’ families in response to the verdict. He also noted concerns over reports that Phongsiri’s father might have been granted bail due to his close ties with local police, which may have deterred some from seeking further legal action.

 

Regarding compensation for victims, Ronnarong confirmed that financial settlements had been made. The most severely affected individuals received up to 200,000 baht, while others received varying amounts based on the extent of their injuries and losses.

 

Ronnarong further called on Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate government officials responsible for issuing permits to Mountain B. He stressed that once a licence is granted, authorities should ensure continued compliance with safety regulations.

 

The Mountain B tragedy remains one of Thailand’s deadliest nightclub fires, drawing widespread criticism of lax safety enforcement in the country’s entertainment industry.

 

Related original post:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1268090-sattahip-district-chief-transferred-after-pub-fire-kills-14-people/

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

 

very light sentence given the body count.

"The most severely affected individuals received up to 200,000 baht, while others received varying amounts based on the extent of their injuries and losses."

 

Some people's lives really aren't valued very highly here, so sad.

Great news, some justice dished out, not enough but at least this was not completely and deliberately "disappeared"

So does this mean Thailand is finally taking electrical installations seriously now. We were going to bring one of our nephews over to London & I was going to give him an electrical apprenticeship, but his dad said no, as electricians were not thought of highly on Thai building sites, almost like semi skilled, no money in it. 

Outstanding news, anytime someone in Thailand is held responsible for that level of negligence it's a good thing for society, it shows the Thai people and the world that there is a semblance of law and order here, and it benefits everybody.

 

It's very possible that even the mother of the owner of this pub is not going to miss him. 

8 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He also noted concerns over reports that Phongsiri’s father might have been granted bail due to his close ties with local police, which may have deterred some from seeking further legal action.

 

And so it goes....

This is one of the victims of the fire.

 

Picture taken about 3 weeks after the fire.
 

He was at the time an off duty firefighter and was picking up his new girlfriend who worked there. As he pulled up in the car park he noticed smoke coming from the roof.

 

He called the emergency services and rushed inside to find his girlfriend and help the evacuation. Unfortunately as he got close to exit, the smoke explosion occurred, engulfing him and his girlfriend in heat and flames. He was leading her by the hand through the smoke and she suffered the most severe injuries, calculated at 80% burns, he received 50% burns.

 

They were treated at the scene, but his own colleagues and friends, before being rushed to hospital.

 

After being in an induced coma for 10 days, he was brought around to discover the girlfriend had died from her injuries. Since that day, he has been unable to work and still needs regular treatment. The compensation so far has been minimal.

 

Just one of the many lives, forever changed. The imprisonment of the owners is a step in the right direction, but sadly these types of fires will continue to occur, both here in Thailand and worldwide.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nightclub_fires

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Ronnarong further called on Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate government officials responsible for issuing permits to Mountain B. He stressed that once a licence is granted, authorities should ensure continued compliance with safety regulations.

Correct, govt officials need a prison sentence also then this might stop

Life is cheap in Thailand unless it happens to a official. Less than being killed by an insure vehicle coverage in general 300,000, these people were slowly cooked.

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A Pattaya court has sentenced Phongsiri “B” Panprasong, owner of the Mountain B pub, and his associates to five years in prison for negligence leading to the deaths of 24 people in the 2022 fire at the venue. The court denied bail for all defendants

Well that took long enough.

Some sentence is better than nothing I suppose...though I wonder if the owner will be out in less.

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

to investigate government officials responsible for issuing permits to Mountain B. He stressed that once a licence is granted, authorities should ensure continued compliance with safety regulations.

 

I can't see this ever happening to the Teflon bureaucrats. I am just amazed he got a jail sentence, tho whether he serves the 5 years is another matter

The thought of the videos I saw of this incident still pop into my head from time to time, so awful. 

4 hours ago, parallelman said:

Some sentence is better than nothing I suppose...though I wonder if the owner will be out in less.

 

Yes,

 

He'll get good behaviour reductions and substantial reductions on such celebrations like the King's birthday etc, as it was a non-violent crime, as in not a murder etc, and the case is not related to drugs.

 

He'll probably also qualify for home detention and ankle tag at a later date, not too far in the future.

16 hours ago, LeeTheCelt said:

So does this mean Thailand is finally taking electrical installations seriously now. We were going to bring one of our nephews over to London & I was going to give him an electrical apprenticeship, but his dad said no, as electricians were not thought of highly on Thai building sites, almost like semi skilled, no money in it. 

Very optimistic thoughts.....

It will come, but given more time and incidents. 

On 3/19/2025 at 9:55 PM, Georgealbert said:

Phongsiri’s father might have been granted bail due to his close ties

 

Disgusting behaviour from the RTP of thailand.

 

 

Licenses should be given out when all safety rules and regulations are approved checked and accepted . Not before. Thailand is still in the dark ages where safety is concerned.

I  first realized this when I found the Fire exits doors on all floors of our condo locked.  We checked every one ( we were coming from the roof pool) and then went to the office to report, where we were literally screamed at by a hysterical employee. 
 

 

 

On 3/20/2025 at 6:15 AM, LeeTheCelt said:

So does this mean Thailand is finally taking electrical installations seriously now.

 

Unfortunately I dont think so.