Illegal building case still up in air

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An assistant director of the Pathum Wan District Office has been implicated in the construction of an illegally constructed building on Soi Ruamrudee. The building is now operating as the Aetas Hotel.

Earlier this month, the Central Administrative Court ordered the demolition of the hotel because the width of the soi was not at least 10 metres throughout the entire stretch. The law requires a soi width of at least 10 metres for buildings as tall as the Aetas Hotel.

Available documents have shown that Chalor Jamroonkarn, an assistant director of the Pathum Wan District Office, told the Larp Prathan company in 2005 that the width was 10 metres.

"I will look into the issue," Deputy Bangkok Governor Thirachon Manomaipiboon said yesterday.

To date, the Pathum Wan District Office has not yet ordered Larp Prathan to demolish its building because the company was appealing the court's verdict.

"I think the legal battle will drag on for years," Thirachon said, "I will ensure justice to all sides".

According to Larp Prathan, the physical dimensions of the soi varies continually, as plots along the soi frequently change hands and the subsequent encroachment on public areas may reduce the width to less than 10 metres at some points.

-- The Nation 2012-02-17

I've always wondered when I've been reading news on this case...

Does the "law" require 10 meters along the entire, potentially very long length of a street where a tall building is located... or just 10 meters on the frontage of the building site itself???