File photo for reference only

 

Police in Bangkok are poised to issue arrest warrants for 17 individuals connected to the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building.

 

The March 28 disaster occurred following an earthquake centred in Myanmar and claimed numerous lives. Those being targeted include engineers, project supervisors, and executives from the construction contractor.

 

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) spearheaded the extensive investigation, assembling a wealth of evidence.

 

This includes expert insights from the Council of Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, and Chulalongkorn University, alongside tests on over 300 construction samples.

 

Investigators are targeting individuals from the Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co joint venture, as well as construction supervisors and engineers.

 

These suspects may face charges of failing to uphold engineering standards, resulting in fatalities, under Sections 227 and 238 of the Criminal Code.

 

Auditor-General Montien Charoenphol has expressed no personal concerns over these proceedings despite the legal and ethical challenges his office faces. He did, however, commit to full cooperation with ongoing investigations.

 

Mr Montien addressed rumours about the SAO's response to bereaved families, asserting that officials have approached each affected family to express their condolences. The SAO continues to be criticised for inadequate communication and support following the tragedy.

 

The building, located in Chatuchak district and under construction, was the sole high-rise to collapse during the earthquake. At the time of the quake, 109 workers were present; 89 bodies have since been recovered, with seven still missing. Nine individuals sustained injuries, while four workers absent on the day the disaster struck have since returned home safely.

 

Ultimately, the tragedy underscores the need for adherence to strict engineering and construction standards to prevent such occurrences. As the legal process unfolds, the involved parties may face significant legal repercussions amid continued public scrutiny.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-14

 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

These suspects may face charges of failing to uphold engineering standards, resulting in fatalities, under Sections 227 and 238 of the Criminal Code.

 

 

I truely hope the big fish don't slip through the net & the blame falls on the responsible people who knowingly allowed sub-standard works to be completed 

1 minute ago, Geoffggi said:

 

I truely hope the big fish don't slip through the net & the blame falls on the responsible people who knowingly allowed sub-standard works to be completed 

This is Thailand....the "big fish" swam away.....

8 hours ago, webfact said:

These suspects may face charges of failing to uphold engineering standards, resulting in fatalities, under Sections 227 and 238 of the Criminal Code.

A scapegoat or two and the real culprits will walk free.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Police in Bangkok are poised to issue arrest warrants

They're just waiting for the 17 to leave the country first

If Thai tradition is followed, the big fish will escape punishment in exchange for stuffed pastry boxes. Only the little fish will be punished, and most of them will be untouchable Chinese engineers who are back in China. The status quo will then be restored.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) spearheaded the extensive investigation, assembling a wealth of evidence.

any other wealth still being assembled? Come on now, don't be shy...

Investigators are targeting individuals from the Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co joint venture, as well as construction supervisors and engineers.

I seriously hope that they will check and take into account the levels of the supervisors that they are targeting.

I was a construction supervisor on 3 major projects in Hong Kong (airport & rail links) and the title meant very little.

I had no previous construction experience, my only qualification is that I was white.

On all 3 projects I had no control on how the projects ran, I was basically a glorified charge-hand, a baby-sitter.

 

There is a good chance that supervisors on this job would have been powerless, with all decisions on materials, how the site was run, etc. coming from China.

 

 

The Thai authorities seem to have a standard playbook they work from in these kinds of high-profile cases -- publicly announce the planned arrests in the news media ahead of time, ensuring that the influentials or connected folks involved have plenty of time to exit Thailand before the police come knocking....

 

'Being Targeted' here means.....Pssssst; hey, get out of the Country and stay out for the next 20 years

8 hours ago, renaissanc said:

If Thai tradition is followed, the big fish will escape punishment in exchange for stuffed pastry boxes. Only the little fish will be punished, and most of them will be untouchable Chinese engineers who are back in China. The status quo will then be restored.

Untouchable Chinese engineers and materials It's so obvious they had a big responsibility to this disaster.  Very sad.

I sure hope someone is held accountable. If these 17 have fled, Thailand should seek extradition from the countries where these criminals reside.

On 5/15/2025 at 6:44 AM, Kenneth White said:

I sure hope someone is held accountable. If these 17 have fled, Thailand should seek extradition from the countries where these criminals reside.

I very much doubt that would happen. Remember all the dead and missing were just lower class workers. Who cares about them? Hope I'm wrong!