Four Chinese Nationals Jailed for Theft at Collapsed Building Site in Bangkok

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

BANGKOK - In a recent ruling, the Phra Nakhon Nuea District Court sentenced four Chinese men to one month in prison and a 3,000 baht fine each for illegally removing documents from the State Audit Office building.

 

The court proceedings stem from an incident on 29th March, where the individuals were caught with 32 files taken without permission from a collapsed section of the building.

 

Prosecutors brought charges against Jiang Xiangming, Wen Bó Nan, Xiaowei Liu, and Ye Jin under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act for defying official orders.

 

The documents seized included various types connected to construction contracts, engineering, and general inquiries linked to the office operations.

 

 

 

All four defendants were found to be working for a company in partnership with Italian-Thai Development. They confessed to the charges brought against them, which led the court to reduce their sentences.

 

Originally sentenced to two months' imprisonment and a 6,000 baht fine each, their sentences were halved due to their confessions and lack of prior convictions.

 

Despite their prison sentences, the court decided to suspend their jail time for one year, in light of the mitigating factors.

 

Based on a story by Thai Rath

 

-- 2025-04-02

 

 

[Upnotover]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

Despite their prison sentences, the court decided to suspend their jail time for one year, in light of the mitigating factors.

 

Headline a little off.

[save the frogs]

one month and a "short time" fine

[thesetat]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

Despite their prison sentences, the court decided to suspend their jail time for one year, in light of the mitigating factors.

Does this imply that after one year they must serve the 30 days jail time? 

 

Given the nature of the documents taken which all relate to the construction of the building that completely collapsed from the earthquake. There should have been more charges based on the fact that their will be an investigation into corruption on the construction standards of materials used. 

[thesetat]

Just now, thesetat said:

Does this imply that after one year they must serve the 30 days jail time? 

 

Given the nature of the documents taken which all relate to the construction of the building that completely collapsed from the earthquake. There should have been more charges based on the fact that their will be an investigation into corruption on the construction standards of materials used. 

Or perhaps the mitigating factors were seen in brown envelopes. The company they work for has a lto of wealth and power through the government officials including Thaksin

[MikeandDow]

Definitly a little off  they being co conspirators to  manslaughter

[Tropicalevo]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The court proceedings stem from an incident on 29th March, where the individuals were caught with 32 files taken without permission from a collapsed section of the building.

 

The guys actually got away with the files and only later, were told to come back and return them.

The question is, did they return all of them?

[jojothai]

28 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

The guys actually got away with the files and only later, were told to come back and return them.

The question is, did they return all of them?

Perhaps they did not have to return all the documents, 

Just some notes instead,
those notes that have the kings face 😉 

[songhklasid]

Smells fishy from the start ! We can only hope those responsible get charged with man slaughter.

rgds SS 

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, thesetat said:

Does this imply that after one year they must serve the 30 days jail time? 

 

Given the nature of the documents taken which all relate to the construction of the building that completely collapsed from the earthquake. There should have been more charges based on the fact that their will be an investigation into corruption on the construction standards of materials used. 

Is it established that the documents relate directly to the construction of the building? 

[Upnotover]

7 hours ago, thesetat said:

Does this imply that after one year they must serve the 30 days jail time? 

You need to Google "suspended sentence".

[Liverpool Lou]

8 hours ago, thesetat said:

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite their prison sentences, the court decided to suspend their jail time for one year, in light of the mitigating factors.

Does this imply that after one year they must serve the 30 days jail time? 

No, it means that if they commit any offence in the next 12 months they will have to serve the original sentence.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Definitly a little off  they being co conspirators to  manslaughter

Where has it been reported that the investigation into the collapse concluded that manslaughter charges are appropriate?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The guys actually got away with the files and only later, were told to come back and return them.

Where was that reported?  What was actually widely reported was that they were apprehended with the files which were confiscated.

[Andycoops]

Good I hope they come out with very sore retums 

[jcmj]

Crazy. Stupid laws for reducing sentences in half just because you admit it, which I’m sure was the first thing that the lawyer or police told them to do. 

[proton]

How will they get away with using the cheaper, wrong steel, a misunderstanding ?

[MikeandDow]

16 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Where has it been reported that the investigation into the collapse concluded that manslaughter charges are appropriate?

Forums are for people to share they opinion  as well as facts  whether you like it or not  no justification required

[Upnotover]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Good I hope they come out with very sore retums 

Come out from where?  They are not going in anywhere.

[LALes]

Sounds like hiding evidence that resulted in a major public tragedy.  These guys should have been locked up

and put through a televised trial.

[Moonlover]

7 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

The guys actually got away with the files and only later, were told to come back and return them.

The question is, did they return all of them?

Go back and read the original story:

 

'In an eye-opening turn of events, four Chinese nationals were apprehended attempting to smuggle vital files from the wreckage of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok's Chatuchak district'.

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

5 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Where has it been reported that the investigation into the collapse concluded that manslaughter charges are appropriate?

Forums are for people to share they opinion  as well as facts  whether you like it or not  no justification required

You phrased your comment as a statement, not an opinion.  You stated that they are conspirators to manslaughter...

"Definitly a little off  they being co conspirators to  manslaughter",

that's not how anyone expresses an opinion.    I didn't ask you to justify your comment, I only asked  where it had been reported.

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

Thailand, where the wheels of justice turn slowly.  Unless it is politically expedient.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

From the OP report:

 

"Despite their prison sentences, the court decided to suspend their jail time for one year, in light of the mitigating factors" [emphasis added]

 

That means, they got sentenced legally, but won't actually have to serve any time at all.

 

That last pgh of the OP report is what's called in the news business "burying the lede." (the key/most important thing)

 

The bottom line of it is -- they walk away with little consequence and China is satisfied. Not a single day in custody served, and less than $200 fines.

 

I suspect, they'll all now be headed quickly back to homeland China.

 

[cowellandrew]

Even the strongest steel can be burnt with jet fuel!

☻☻☻🐒🙏

[robz]

Sad, It will never change...

[Packer]

 

Slow train. 

 

The high speed train to China will really help to speed up such document repatriation. 

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

All four defendants were found to be working for a company in partnership with Italian-Thai Development. They confessed to the charges brought against them, which led the court to reduce their sentences.

 

Originally sentenced to two months' imprisonment and a 6,000 baht fine each, their sentences were halved due to their confessions and lack of prior convictions.

Should have doubled the sentences.