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Crime DSI Arrests Chinese Tycoon Linked to Collapsed Government Building Project, Hunts 3 Thais
UPDATE China Railway Executive Granted Bail Over Nominee Allegations Picture courtesy of Komchadluek The Criminal Court at Ratchada has granted bail to Mr Chuanling Zhang, a 42-year-old Chinese national and director of China Railway No. 10 (Thailand), in connection with a nominee case linked to the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building. Bail was set at 500,000 baht, with conditions including a prohibition on leaving the country without court approval and mandatory reporting to authorities. Mr Zhang, who owns a 49% stake in the company, was taken into custody by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and brought before the court for an initial detention hearing. He faces charges under Thailand’s Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999), specifically Sections 37 and 41, for allegedly using Thai nationals as proxy shareholders in a business activity restricted from foreign ownership. The charges also implicate the company itself for alleged complicity in the violations. The bail decision follows the court’s assessment of the evidence and the relatively moderate maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment attached to the charges. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong confirmed that the Chinese government has not interfered in the investigation and emphasised that the legal process will proceed independently. The Chinese Embassy has acknowledged Mr Zhang as an employee of a Chinese state-owned enterprise. Minister Tawee underscored that Mr Zhang’s status as a representative of a state-owned entity holds no legal bearing under Thai law, and insisted that the case will be handled impartially. He also noted China’s respect for Thai law and its willingness to support the investigation by sending experts to ensure compliance and assess the circumstances surrounding the building collapse. The investigation into the structural failure of the State Audit Office building continues and is being pursued separately from both the procurement-related and nominee cases. In a related development, the DSI is seeking court approval to detain three Thai nationals,Manas Srianan, Prachuap Sirikhet, and Sophon Meechai, accused of acting as proxy shareholders for China Railway No. 10 (Thailand). The three men surrendered to authorities and were interrogated for over ten hours. They deny any wrongdoing and claim not to have acted on behalf of the Chinese firm. Sophon has agreed to testify, while the other two have opted to submit written statements within 30 days. Investigators have raised concerns about inconsistencies between the suspects’ statements and documented evidence regarding shareholding, board changes, funding sources, and company management. The DSI is also examining links between the three suspects and another Chinese national, Bing Lin Wu, who operates a tyre import-export business in Thailand. Manas and Prachuap previously had business dealings with Bing and Mr Zhang, initially through Suntiphab Property before becoming involved with China Railway No. 10 (Thailand). Sophon claimed he was invited by the other two to become a shareholder and director. His lawyer assisted with clarifying some of the questions during the interview due to apparent confusion. Preliminary financial checks have revealed that the three suspects hold modest bank balances, some amounting to only tens of thousands of baht. Investigators are currently tracing financial transactions to verify the authenticity of shareholding claims. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Komchadluek. -- 2025-04-23 -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Wednesday 23 April 2025
Locals Heartbroken as Revered Statue of Tao Wessuwan Demolished Without Permission Picture courtesy of ThaiRath. A much-revered statue of Tao Wessuwan, a guardian deity in Thai and Buddhist belief, was destroyed without prior warning at the entrance to Pong Ta Muk Temple in Phan Thong District, sparking outrage among local residents and devotees. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1358522-locals-heartbroken-as-revered-statue-of-tao-wessuwan-demolished-without-permission/ -
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Accident Newly Elected Provincial Councillor Fatally Crashes SUV into Woman on Motorbike
I'm the newly elected provincial councilor get ou of my way 🤔 -
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Locals Heartbroken as Revered Statue of Tao Wessuwan Demolished Without Permission
Picture courtesy of ThaiRath. A much-revered statue of Tao Wessuwan, a guardian deity in Thai and Buddhist belief, was destroyed without prior warning at the entrance to Pong Ta Muk Temple in Phan Thong District, sparking outrage among local residents and devotees. The demolition occurred during road-widening works along the Phan Thong–Ban Bueng route. The statue, which had stood for over a decade, was reportedly torn down by construction workers without notifying the temple authorities or community leaders. The temple’s abbot, Phra Khru Witthayaphinan Yanangko, has expressed deep disappointment and has announced plans to file a police report against the contractor responsible. According to a Facebook post from the local page “Nong Hong Subdistrict, Phan Thong,” the incident took place on 21 April, shortly before midday. Workers employed by the roadworks contractor proceeded to demolish both the temple wall and two statues of Tao Wessuwan, ignoring standard protocol which requires religious statues to be ceremonially relocated with proper notice and consultation. When reporters visited the site, they found ongoing construction work and visible damage to the two Tao Wessuwan statues. Pieces of the once-proud guardian figures lay in ruins, leaving many locals dismayed. Mr. Amnuay Charoensuk, a 52-year-old local vendor and long-time devotee, described the statues as spiritual protectors that had brought a sense of safety to the area, even reportedly reducing traffic accidents. “I feel devastated. We built these with donations and reverence. Nearly 100,000 baht was spent. Now it’s all gone without any respect,” he said. One of the workers involved, 50-year-old Mr. Nawee Wairiab, admitted he had followed orders from his supervisor. “I didn’t mean to cause harm. I raised my hands in respect before starting the work. I apologise to the villagers, I was just doing my job.” The abbot confirmed that plans were already in place to respectfully relocate the statues as part of the road expansion. “Had they spoken to us first, we could have moved the statues easily. They weren’t even that large,” he said. “But to demolish them without permission, that’s unacceptable.” Community members are now demanding that the contractor fund the reconstruction of the statues and work with the temple to ensure proper religious procedures are followed. The incident has prompted widespread discussion online, with many condemning the lack of cultural and spiritual sensitivity. Adapted by ASEAN Now from ThaiRath. -- 2025-04-23 -
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