Report Arrest Warrants Expected in State Audit Office Building Collapse Probe

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Picture courtesy of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

 

Authorities are poised to issue arrest warrants next week for three groups linked to the recent collapse of the State Audit Office’s under-construction building. The structure fell following the earthquake on March 28, prompting a comprehensive investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

 

Police Major General Noppasin Poolsawat, Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, has stated that so far, 193 witnesses have been interviewed. These include officials from the State Audit Office (SAO), relatives of the injured, as well as contracted building designers, construction supervisors, and workers involved in the project.

 

The thorough investigation has gathered various forms of evidence, ranging from witness statements to physical and circumstantial evidence. Key documentation, including terms of reference, design and supervision contracts, and construction materials like steel and concrete fragments, are under scrutiny.

 

Focus has narrowed to three main groups: the design team from Forum Architect and Meinhardt (Thailand); the construction team associated with ITD-CREC, a collaboration of Italian-Thai Development and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand); and the construction supervision team of PKW, a joint venture including PN Synchronise, KP Consultants and Management, and W and Associates Consultants.

 

The 30-storey building’s design has been reviewed by the Council of Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, and experts at Chulalongkorn University. These bodies are assessing compliance with architectural and engineering standards, construction principles, and ministerial regulations, with results anticipated next week.

 

Investigators have gathered 315 pieces of material evidence, including steel and concrete samples, which have undergone initial analysis. Further findings are expected to bolster the case as final results are prepared for next week, setting the stage for forthcoming legal actions against those deemed responsible for the catastrophic failure.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-09