Santika Club Owner Meets Police; Prepares To Compensate Victims

[Old Man River]

Look's like Bullshit is digging himself deeper into the hole.

Post Bag: How it was, that's all

Published: 8/01/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Re: The article on the Santika pub fire (Bangkok Post, Jan 7). I am sorry if my article sounded like any sort of justification; that was not what I was trying to portray in my summing up of the events as they actually happened. All I was trying to do was ensure that the facts as I saw them on the night of Dec 31 were made known, and for some closure for myself.

My intention has not been, nor will it ever be, to justify the lack of emergency procedures. I think the summing up of those will be a matter of public record fairly swiftly and there will be several ''scapegoats'' put to the wall for it. I actually think that the local authorities are as much to blame for the blatant disregard of safety as anyone else involved in this tragedy.

We all know that to remain open there must have been deals upon deals with everyone taking their ''tea money''. This is the point I am making here: it is endemic to Thai society and actually systemic to the day-to-day operations of entertainment venues.

My goal is not to justify anything that went on that night or any points people have made regarding the safety issues; some of them can only be answered by the owners and the authorities. That was never my intention - all I put in the article were the actual facts of the tragedy itself.

There is no absolution for anyone from what I have written, only the actual facts of the evening itself. Only God, and the authorities, can grant that.

JULIAN BULMAN

-----

Once again he is till attempting to push the blame away from the owners. I would imagine he is not too popular with some of the local authorities regarding his continuing claims about "tea money". He fails to see that his friend is just as complicit in this by actually paying out, to avoid regulations.

I read this and I should have figured it out from the first letter. What he is doing, in my view, is publicly presenting Santika's upcoming defense.

He admits that the lack of emergency procedures is undeniable, but goes on to say that "the local authorities are as much to blame for the blatant disregard of safety as anyone else involved in this tragedy." He finishes with "there is no absolution for anyone from what I have written, only the actual facts of the evening itself. Only God, and the authorities, can grant that."

Hence, he is blaming the authorities for being responsible for the fire and then saying it is up to the authorities to grant absolution. On tea money, he can say whatever he wants as it is a non issue in this case as it cannot be proven.

While his position is unpopular, I now don't think this guy is as naive as I first thought.

Disagree again.

He said clearly that he is NOT justifying the lack of emergency procedures.

He said that the "local authorities are as much to blame for the blatant disregard of safety as anyone else involved in this tragedy" - I cannot see where he is protecting the owners with this statement.

The owner took the convenience of the lack of law enforcement and did not put sufficient emergency procedures in place. Hence he has to take the blame/responsibility of doing so and the authorities have to take the blame/responsibility of allowing it to happen.

Let's wait and see. It may well be that the authorities have messed up so badly on this one that the directors of Santika are not liable for lack of emergency procedures because the club may not be subject to them. Read the Bangkok Post this morning (front page) for more info.

[baht&sold]

Justice minister assigns Pornthip to investigate cause of Santika Pub fire

Jan 9, 2009 The Nation (article link)

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga has assigned Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, to investigate the cause of Santika Pub fire.

Pirapan said Friday that he assigned Pornthip to work with officials form the Department of Special Investigations to probe the cause of the fire.

They were also assigned to check whether the pub had installed fire preventive and alarm systems in line with the laws.

Pirapan said the probe team would submit the results of investigation to him on Monday.

------------------

(now we're getting somewhere)

[baht&sold]

Pornthip, Justice Ministry officials inspect Santika Pub

Jan 9, 2009 The Nation (article link)

Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, led some 20 officials from the Justice Ministry to inspect the remains of the Santika Pub Friday afternoon.

Pornthip inspected the pub together with Pol Col Narat Sawettanan, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigations and officials from the DSI, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Rights and Liberties Protection Department at 2 pm.

Pornthip said she believed her inspection of the site would not lead to conflicts with police but her works would supplement the investigations by police.

-----------------

K Pornthip is well known for getting around obstacles hindering investigations - looking forward to her 'supplement'.

Edited January 9, 2009 by baht&sold

[Scott]

But what difference does it make, if the laws don't cover the place and any mistakes are covered by the loopholes!

I can't believe the blueprints got lost--the Thai's are way too good with paperwork. I think stuff may have 'gone missing' so they can't trace who was getting the tea money and how much.

I am sure the owner(s)/manager mentioned that someone had better do something or he (they) would have to talk. They/re a little too high profile to conveniently die in custody.

[Old Man River]

But what difference does it make, if the laws don't cover the place and any mistakes are covered by the loopholes!

I can't believe the blueprints got lost--the Thai's are way too good with paperwork. I think stuff may have 'gone missing' so they can't trace who was getting the tea money and how much.

I am sure the owner(s)/manager mentioned that someone had better do something or he (they) would have to talk. They/re a little too high profile to conveniently die in custody.

Actually, to the victims it doesn't matter anyway, the damage is done.

On this one, I wouldn't be so sure the culprit is the police. Let's not forget that it was the police who denied Santika a license to operate as a club in the first place (it was operating under an injunction from the Administrative Court). The Club was actually registered on Nov. 13, 2003 as a "restaurant and food and refreshment shop". Clearly, while the issue of whether it was a club is a separate legal matter, the local office of the BMA should have known that this definitely was not a private residence.

[mrtoad]

Disagree again.

He said clearly that he is NOT justifying the lack of emergency procedures.

He said that the "local authorities are as much to blame for the blatant disregard of safety as anyone else involved in this tragedy" - I cannot see where he is protecting the owners with this statement.

The owner took the convenience of the lack of law enforcement and did not put sufficient emergency procedures in place. Hence he has to take the blame/responsibility of doing so and the authorities have to take the blame/responsibility of allowing it to happen.

He has slightly changed his tact, but in his initial piece he suggested quite clearly that the deaths were not due to the lack of safety, but the fact that whiskey bottles were exploding and people were killed by the stampede. Now it's quite clear that people were killed in the stampeded, but the reason for that happening is the lack of safety percautions in the court. Bulman has slightly backtracked from his initial statment, but it still trying IMO to sow the seeds of doubt. I actaully don't disagree that there are people that also have responsibility for this, and that includes the auhorities, shareholders and management of the club.

I think no one here, doesn't want to see justice done, and it is encouraging that Porntip is now being involved in the investigaation.

[raro]

Disagree again.

He said clearly that he is NOT justifying the lack of emergency procedures.

He said that the "local authorities are as much to blame for the blatant disregard of safety as anyone else involved in this tragedy" - I cannot see where he is protecting the owners with this statement.

The owner took the convenience of the lack of law enforcement and did not put sufficient emergency procedures in place. Hence he has to take the blame/responsibility of doing so and the authorities have to take the blame/responsibility of allowing it to happen.

He has slightly changed his tact, but in his initial piece he suggested quite clearly that the deaths were not due to the lack of safety, but the fact that whiskey bottles were exploding and people were killed by the stampede. Now it's quite clear that people were killed in the stampeded, but the reason for that happening is the lack of safety percautions in the court. Bulman has slightly backtracked from his initial statment, but it still trying IMO to sow the seeds of doubt. I actaully don't disagree that there are people that also have responsibility for this, and that includes the auhorities, shareholders and management of the club.

I think no one here, doesn't want to see justice done, and it is encouraging that Porntip is now being involved in the investigaation.

I do agree that Mr. Bulman's wording is a bit unfortunate but I read both of his texts not as a defense of the owners but rather as additional information to what has been established as facts so far as well as pointing the bashing not to the owners alone but also to the authorities.

And if he says that people were killed in the stampede, I take this at face value because he is an eye witness. Same applies to the exploding whiskey bottles, could well be that this was also a contributing factor as it was in the Beverly Hill Supper Club inferno I quoted earlier.

Anyways...before we do more armchair speculations, let's see what the investigations will bring to light. It is indeed encouraging that Dr. Pornthip is involved now!

[UncleFrank]

If those whiskey bottles were boiling off and exploding, the people near them would have been dead already.

[AnthonyR1]

i keep telling myself not to contribute to this thread but i can't help myself. it doesn't mater what santika was licenses as; a club, pub, restaurant or toilet! regardless of their transparent license, basic fire/life requirements were ignored. this is the issue, put aside all the other BS, this is the basic issue. now, the real question is how were they so blatantly ignored and by whom? there is no doubting that the owner(s) were fully aware of the cut corners. anyone who has been in TH longer than 6 months knows the true culprits will never be brought to justice. they can arrange a thousand post disaster inspections and in the end it will all be smoke and mirrors. retribution for the unfortunate lost souls will never be paid.

finally, posting anything about the "exploding whiskey bottles" is an insult to the people who lost their lives and an insult to readers. it's total and complete CRAP!

Edited January 10, 2009 by AnthonyR1

[AnthonyR1]

If those whiskey bottles were boiling off and exploding, the people near them would have been dead already.

correct. you are so right dude. IF it were REMOTELY possibly that they exploded and caused damage, by that time (as you said) people would of already been dead. it's an annoying, weak, pathetic comment made by people involved in this disaster to try and deflect blame.

[AnthonyR1]

Disagree again.

He said clearly that he is NOT justifying the lack of emergency procedures.

He said that the "local authorities are as much to blame for the blatant disregard of safety as anyone else involved in this tragedy" - I cannot see where he is protecting the owners with this statement.

The owner took the convenience of the lack of law enforcement and did not put sufficient emergency procedures in place. Hence he has to take the blame/responsibility of doing so and the authorities have to take the blame/responsibility of allowing it to happen.

He has slightly changed his tact, but in his initial piece he suggested quite clearly that the deaths were not due to the lack of safety, but the fact that whiskey bottles were exploding and people were killed by the stampede. Now it's quite clear that people were killed in the stampeded, but the reason for that happening is the lack of safety percautions in the court. Bulman has slightly backtracked from his initial statment, but it still trying IMO to sow the seeds of doubt. I actaully don't disagree that there are people that also have responsibility for this, and that includes the auhorities, shareholders and management of the club.

I think no one here, doesn't want to see justice done, and it is encouraging that Porntip is now being involved in the investigaation.

I do agree that Mr. Bulman's wording is a bit unfortunate but I read both of his texts not as a defense of the owners but rather as additional information to what has been established as facts so far as well as pointing the bashing not to the owners alone but also to the authorities.

And if he says that people were killed in the stampede, I take this at face value because he is an eye witness. Same applies to the exploding whiskey bottles, could well be that this was also a contributing factor as it was in the Beverly Hill Supper Club inferno I quoted earlier.

Anyways...before we do more armchair speculations, let's see what the investigations will bring to light. It is indeed encouraging that Dr. Pornthip is involved now!

no offense dude but we all know that the investigations will be worthless. forget zoning, old buildings, regulations; would basic fire/life systems of saved lives????? sprinklers, multiple exits, exhaust systems, fire retardant materials. of course they would of. at this point it's all focusing on the minutia. basic facts will be forgotten. such a bloody shame!

[Old Man River]

If those whiskey bottles were boiling off and exploding, the people near them would have been dead already.

correct. you are so right dude. IF it were REMOTELY possibly that they exploded and caused damage, by that time (as you said) people would of already been dead. It's an annoying, weak, pathetic comment made by people involved in this disaster to try and deflect blame.

That is my view as well.

[mrtoad]

If those whiskey bottles were boiling off and exploding, the people near them would have been dead already.

correct. you are so right dude. IF it were REMOTELY possibly that they exploded and caused damage, by that time (as you said) people would of already been dead. It's an annoying, weak, pathetic comment made by people involved in this disaster to try and deflect blame.

That is my view as well.

Agree, and until we can establish Bulmans actual relationship to the club, his word can only be taken with a pinch of salt.

[Mobi]

i keep telling myself not to contribute to this thread but i can't help myself. it doesn't mater what santika was licenses as; a club, pub, restaurant or toilet! regardless of their transparent license, basic fire/life requirements were ignored. this is the issue, put aside all the other BS, this is the basic issue. now, the real question is how were they so blatantly ignored and by whom? there is no doubting that the owner(s) were fully aware of the cut corners. anyone who has been in TH longer than 6 months knows the true culprits will never be brought to justice. they can arrange a thousand post disaster inspections and in the end it will all be smoke and mirrors. retribution for the unfortunate lost souls will never be paid.

finally, posting anything about the "exploding whiskey bottles" is an insult to the people who lost their lives and an insult to readers. it's total and complete CRAP!

equal first best post of the month

[AnthonyR1]

If those whiskey bottles were boiling off and exploding, the people near them would have been dead already.

correct. you are so right dude. IF it were REMOTELY possibly that they exploded and caused damage, by that time (as you said) people would of already been dead. It's an annoying, weak, pathetic comment made by people involved in this disaster to try and deflect blame.

That is my view as well.

Agree, and until we can establish Bulmans actual relationship to the club, his word can only be taken with a pinch of salt.

pinch of salt is being polite it may be ignorant of me but i've already drawn my own conclusions about his words. it's obvious to me there was an agenda. it's sickening how disrespectful it is to all those people. sickening

[Graphics]

On Santika's website, there a text in thai language.

http://santikaclub.com/home.php

Anyone could translate it? I also see a number there, seems to be an account number that they had provided for people to donate funds?

[tb86]

yes it should be, they were talking about setting up a charity of some sort earlier this week but they ran into some difficulties with the process

[Mobi]

The great fire safety dodge

Hundreds of clubs and pubs get around controls and inspections by registering as restaurants.

By: Piyaporn Wongruang and Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit and Supoj Wancharoen

Hundreds of late-night entertainment venues in Bangkok are getting around fire safety controls and inspections by registering as restaurants, according to police and industry insiders.Safety measures at registered entertainment venues are also lax because of inadequate laws and follow-up inspections, an investigation by the Bangkok Post Sunday has learned in light of the Santika pub fire tragedy which claimed 64 lives.Currently, there are two main laws which regulate entertainment venues. They are the Building Control Act and the Entertainment Venue Act.....

.....So far, 3,000 have been inspected and 200 buildings have passed and obtained inspection certificates. The rest failed to pass the inspection process.Mr Chollachai said that of the 200, none are entertainment venues……

…..He said there are "a number of entertainment venues" operating outside the designated entertainment zone….

....."They bribe powerful people in the area to extend the opening hours to 1 or 2am," said Mr Patrix.......

The full story can be found HERE

[JetsetBkk]

Mr Patrix also argued that the police should not be responsible for issuing operating licences for pubs, adding they have continued to hold on to this power because there were "benefits" involved.

Yes, get the BiB completely out of the loop as they can't be trusted to do what is required of them.

[hyperdimension]

Can someone post the disturbing series of photos here?

Most of the videos and photos that I've seen of this event miserably fail to capture the true horror of the event. This results in apathy and short-term memory of the event.

Photos that portray the true reality (including graphically detailed photos of the injured survivors) are what's needed to fuel stronger emotions and imprint a long-lasting memory amongst both the public and the authorities, resulting in a higher chance of effective action. There's a huge difference between reading "64 people died" and seeing victims (both dead and alive) in full uncensored and realistic detail.

People, especially those who were responsible and those who can bring about change, need to be disturbed, otherwise this can be quickly and easily forgotten.

Edited January 11, 2009 by hyperdimension

[mrtoad]

Can someone post the disturbing series of photos here?

Most of the videos and photos that I've seen of this event miserably fail to capture the true horror of the event. This results in apathy and short-term memory of the event.

Photos that portray the true reality (including graphically detailed photos of the injured survivors) are what's needed to fuel stronger emotions and imprint a long-lasting memory amongst both the public and the authorities, resulting in a higher chance of effective action. There's a huge difference between reading "64 people died" and seeing victims (both dead and alive) in full uncensored and realistic detail.

People, especially those who were responsible and those who can bring about change, need to be disturbed, otherwise this can be quickly and easily forgotten.

I have seen a number of the pictures from this tragedy, and there is no way that I will post them on this site, or send them onto anyone else. I'm sorry, but the pictures of the dead do not need to be shown. If anyone remembers the Bradford fire tragedy, you will not be able to get pictures of that, although they are used by the Fire Brigade in the UK for Fire safety training.

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think that TV is the place to post those pictures.

[marshbags]

Thailand blaze victim's stepfather dies

The Star, Sheffield, 12 January 2009

By Claire Lewis

Ref url:- http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Thailan...dies.4864927.jp

THE stepfather of a man seriously hurt in a nightclub blaze in Thailand has died after suffering a heart attack.

Mike Gent, who used to run the Millhouses Hotel in Sheffield with wife Pauline, had flown to Thailand to be with her son Oliver Smart after he was injured in a Bangkok nightclub blaze.

The 35-year-old was injured in the fire which killed more thanADVERTISEMENT60 revellers on New Year's Eve.

Fireworks set off inside the club to mark the countdown to midnight sparked the blaze, which turned the club into an inferno.

Oliver, of Marriott Road, Millhouses, had spent Christmas with his mum and stepfather at their home in Goa, India, where they emigrated to after leaving the pub.

He then went to Thailand to spend new Year with his Thai girlfriend, who was also injured in the fire.

Mike and Pauline travelled to Thailand and Mike ended up in a neighbouring room to Oliver in hospital after suffering a heart attack.

He died with his wife Pauline at his side.

Pauline's other son Chris, Oliver's brother, said: "The cause of his collapse was unexplained as his heart appeared to be ok as did his pacemaker and everything else.

"Oliver is still fighting everyday and we hope for the best."

Unquote

Yet another victim of the fire, all be it secondary.

May his son fully recover and his father RIP.

May the owners and authorities responsible for the criminality be eventually brought to justice.

I note they are issueing warrants for one of the major share holders, Wisuk Setsawat and pub manager Surity Ritrabue for under age offences , this will do for starters.

Quote

By: BangkokPost.com Published: 12/01/2009 at 02:57 PM

Ref url http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...-santika-owners

Court issues arrest warrants for Santika owners

The Phra Khanong District Court on Monday issued arrest warrants for owners of Santika Club, a pub destroyed by the fire ignited by a countdown fireworks display, which left 64 partygoers dead.

The Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner-general, Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanont, said investigative officers from Thong Lor Police Station asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Santika major shareholder Wisuk Setsawat and pub manager Surity Ritrabue.

They were accused of allowing minors entering the nightclub and being reckless by causing other people's deaths.

More arrest warrants could be issued if police find more suspects involving in the Santika tragedy, Pol Gen Jongrak said.

Unquote

ened by it all and very angry at the apparent lack of ability to prosecute them and their possible avoidence via a loop hole

WTFIGO

marshbags

[mrtoad]

Thailand blaze victim's stepfather dies

The Star, Sheffield, 12 January 2009

By Claire Lewis

Ref url:- http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Thailan...dies.4864927.jp

THE stepfather of a man seriously hurt in a nightclub blaze in Thailand has died after suffering a heart attack.

Mike Gent, who used to run the Millhouses Hotel in Sheffield with wife Pauline, had flown to Thailand to be with her son Oliver Smart after he was injured in a Bangkok nightclub blaze.

The 35-year-old was injured in the fire which killed more thanADVERTISEMENT60 revellers on New Year's Eve.

Fireworks set off inside the club to mark the countdown to midnight sparked the blaze, which turned the club into an inferno.

Oliver, of Marriott Road, Millhouses, had spent Christmas with his mum and stepfather at their home in Goa, India, where they emigrated to after leaving the pub.

He then went to Thailand to spend new Year with his Thai girlfriend, who was also injured in the fire.

Mike and Pauline travelled to Thailand and Mike ended up in a neighbouring room to Oliver in hospital after suffering a heart attack.

He died with his wife Pauline at his side.

Pauline's other son Chris, Oliver's brother, said: "The cause of his collapse was unexplained as his heart appeared to be ok as did his pacemaker and everything else.

"Oliver is still fighting everyday and we hope for the best."

Unquote

Yet another victim of the fire, all be it secondary.

May his son fully recover and his father RIP.

May the owners and authorities responsible for the criminality be eventually brought to justice.

I note they are issueing warrants for one of the major share holders, Wisuk Setsawat and pub manager Surity Ritrabue for under age offences , this will do for starters.

Quote

By: BangkokPost.com Published: 12/01/2009 at 02:57 PM

Ref url http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...-santika-owners

Court issues arrest warrants for Santika owners

The Phra Khanong District Court on Monday issued arrest warrants for owners of Santika Club, a pub destroyed by the fire ignited by a countdown fireworks display, which left 64 partygoers dead.

The Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner-general, Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanont, said investigative officers from Thong Lor Police Station asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Santika major shareholder Wisuk Setsawat and pub manager Surity Ritrabue.

They were accused of allowing minors entering the nightclub and being reckless by causing other people's deaths.

More arrest warrants could be issued if police find more suspects involving in the Santika tragedy, Pol Gen Jongrak said.

Unquote

ened by it all and very angry at the apparent lack of ability to prosecute them and their possible avoidence via a loop hole

WTFIGO

marshbags

Shouldn't be too difficult, there are 30 other shareholders in this club, along with the BMA safety officials who have clearly also been negligent or corrupt in their duties.

[marshbags]

Bnagkok Post, Breakingnews, Published: 13/01/2009 at 04:04 PM

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...urns-himself-in

Santika owner turns himself in

Santika Club major shareholder Wisuk Setsawat turned himself in to police at 2pm Tuesday while pub manager Suriya Ritrabue has yet to contact the police.

Mr Wisuk and his lawyer together with his bail money travelled to Thong Lor Police Station after the court on Monday issued arrest warrants for him and Mr Suriya on charges of allowing underage customers to enter the entertainment venue and negligence resulting in deaths and injuries of others.

The Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner-general, Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanont, said police set the bail at one million baht because many people died in the pub fire. The incident resulted in 64 deaths.

Meanwhile, authorities could not get in touch with Mr Suriya yet.

Unquote

Seems to me Suriya is about to take the brunt of this, with the owners using him as the fall guy.

I wouldn,t be surpised if he disappears altogether, should he be deemed expendable.

If he does give himself up this could be big trouble for the owners as he would possibly sing to save himself and lighten his punishment.

IMHO

marshbags and

Edited January 13, 2009 by marshbags

[mrtoad]

The shower of shit are wriggling like worms. I think you may be right Marshbags.

I noticed in another thread that on of the posters was injured in the incident, and ws offered a miserly 10,000 baht to help with medical bilss with more to follow. Santika's owner, management and shareholders are a disgrace.

I wonder what Bulman will have to say about this?

[The Mask]

The shower of shit are wriggling like worms. I think you may be right Marshbags.

I noticed in another thread that on of the posters was injured in the incident, and ws offered a miserly 10,000 baht to help with medical bilss with more to follow. Santika's owner, management and shareholders are a disgrace.

I wonder what Bulman will have to say about this?

Yes I was indeed injured in the incident, I spent 12 days in ICU at Samitivej. One of the shareholders from Santika came to visit me with the 10,000 baht offering, which would not even put a dent in the 550,000 hospital bill.

[HarleyMcGrath]

My very good friend is gone in this fire. Today is his funeral. I just want to pray for him now.

I am really really sad....!

I am deeply sorry for the loss of your friend, it is such a tragady. My thoughts are with all that have lost someone.

I am still trying to find a list as i am worried that one of my greatest freinds might have been there. Her name is Wannapa Moontongchun and i have not been able to contact her as her phone has been temporarily disconnected, its been some time now and i thought i would hear from her. I'm fearing the worst, i have not been able to get hold of a complete list of the deceased, please can anyone help me?

[sriracha john]

The shower of shit are wriggling like worms.

* I think there might be a lot more wriggling after this one *

Santika 'left alone' after CSD officer bought a stake

Police stopped raiding the doomed Santika pub soon after a Deputy Chief of the Crime Suppression Division became a shareholder in 2006, a panel of investigators has found. The panel looking into operations of the pub, which was consumed in a deadly inferno killing 66 people, said no Santika executives had been arrested for breaches since Police Colonel Prayont Lasua had bought shares in the pub on Sept 17, 2006. Before Prayont bought his shares, police had laid charges against the pub 47 times for operating without a licence. A member of the panel, citing the findings of the Justice Ministry's investigating committee, said pub executives had been arrested for operating without a licence and selling alcohol at prohibited times. The ministry's investigating panel yesterday reported its findings to Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga. In its report, the panel said Suriya Ritrabue, Managing Director of White & Brothers (2003) Co, which runs the pub, was a service boy at the pub's car park. Suriya, who is facing an arrest warrant for his involvement in the New Year tragedy, has not reported to police. It was revealed pub executives had failed to pay excise taxes for operating an entertainment venue for the past five years. The panel found the pub earned 250 million baht over the past five years and owed 25 million baht in tax. It also found the pub had not paid signboard and land taxes to Watthana district office and had failed to pay income tax to the Revenue Department. It also found the signatures of engineers who designed the building and supervised the construction had been falsified.

More damaging news continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1047...-bought-a-stake

[robee]

The shower of shit are wriggling like worms.

* I think there might be a lot more wriggling after this one *

Santika 'left alone' after CSD officer bought a stake

Police stopped raiding the doomed Santika pub soon after a Deputy Chief of the Crime Suppression Division became a shareholder in 2006, a panel of investigators has found. The panel looking into operations of the pub, which was consumed in a deadly inferno killing 66 people, said no Santika executives had been arrested for breaches since Police Colonel Prayont Lasua had bought shares in the pub on Sept 17, 2006. Before Prayont bought his shares, police had laid charges against the pub 47 times for operating without a licence. A member of the panel, citing the findings of the Justice Ministry's investigating committee, said pub executives had been arrested for operating without a licence and selling alcohol at prohibited times. The ministry's investigating panel yesterday reported its findings to Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga. In its report, the panel said Suriya Ritrabue, Managing Director of White & Brothers (2003) Co, which runs the pub, was a service boy at the pub's car park. Suriya, who is facing an arrest warrant for his involvement in the New Year tragedy, has not reported to police. It was revealed pub executives had failed to pay excise taxes for operating an entertainment venue for the past five years. The panel found the pub earned 250 million baht over the past five years and owed 25 million baht in tax. It also found the pub had not paid signboard and land taxes to Watthana district office and had failed to pay income tax to the Revenue Department. It also found the signatures of engineers who designed the building and supervised the construction had been falsified.

More damaging news continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1047...-bought-a-stake

corruption at all levels

[Old Man River]

Thailand blaze victim's stepfather dies

The Star, Sheffield, 12 January 2009

By Claire Lewis

Ref url:- http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Thailan...dies.4864927.jp

THE stepfather of a man seriously hurt in a nightclub blaze in Thailand has died after suffering a heart attack.

Mike Gent, who used to run the Millhouses Hotel in Sheffield with wife Pauline, had flown to Thailand to be with her son Oliver Smart after he was injured in a Bangkok nightclub blaze.

The 35-year-old was injured in the fire which killed more thanADVERTISEMENT60 revellers on New Year's Eve.

Fireworks set off inside the club to mark the countdown to midnight sparked the blaze, which turned the club into an inferno.

Oliver, of Marriott Road, Millhouses, had spent Christmas with his mum and stepfather at their home in Goa, India, where they emigrated to after leaving the pub.

He then went to Thailand to spend new Year with his Thai girlfriend, who was also injured in the fire.

Mike and Pauline travelled to Thailand and Mike ended up in a neighbouring room to Oliver in hospital after suffering a heart attack.

He died with his wife Pauline at his side.

Pauline's other son Chris, Oliver's brother, said: "The cause of his collapse was unexplained as his heart appeared to be ok as did his pacemaker and everything else.

"Oliver is still fighting everyday and we hope for the best."

Unquote

Yet another victim of the fire, all be it secondary.

May his son fully recover and his father RIP.

May the owners and authorities responsible for the criminality be eventually brought to justice.

I note they are issueing warrants for one of the major share holders, Wisuk Setsawat and pub manager Surity Ritrabue for under age offences , this will do for starters.

Quote

By: BangkokPost.com Published: 12/01/2009 at 02:57 PM

Ref url http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/13...-santika-owners

Court issues arrest warrants for Santika owners

The Phra Khanong District Court on Monday issued arrest warrants for owners of Santika Club, a pub destroyed by the fire ignited by a countdown fireworks display, which left 64 partygoers dead.

The Royal Thai Police deputy commissioner-general, Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanont, said investigative officers from Thong Lor Police Station asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Santika major shareholder Wisuk Setsawat and pub manager Surity Ritrabue.

They were accused of allowing minors entering the nightclub and being reckless by causing other people's deaths.

More arrest warrants could be issued if police find more suspects involving in the Santika tragedy, Pol Gen Jongrak said.

Unquote

ened by it all and very angry at the apparent lack of ability to prosecute them and their possible avoidence via a loop hole

WTFIGO

marshbags

Shouldn't be too difficult, there are 30 other shareholders in this club, along with the BMA safety officials who have clearly also been negligent or corrupt in their duties.

Shareholders are not liable just because they are shareholders. A secretary could own shares and she would not be liable. Senior company officers that can obligate the company along with its directors would be the one's the police will be looking closely at.

I think it pretty safe to assume that there are a number of illegally operating fire traps in Bangkok similar to the Santika. Other clubs which are owned by the police, have parking attendants or the like as nominee directors, have been switched from residences to entertainment venues without permission, have no insurance coverage, have forged signatures on legal documents, have had no fire inspections and provide little or no safety equipment. There are more issues, I am sure.

Going forward, when all is said and done on the Santika tragedy, the real issue now is whether the BMA actually deals with all the other fire traps. It is up to the BMA as the police won't police themselves and parents can't forbid their children to attend these places when these children are young adults who make their own decisions. It all comes down to the BMA and whether they do their jobs.