Police Ready To File Charges Over Fatal Bangkok Park Avenue Hotel Fire

[webfact]

Police ready to file charges over fatal hotel fire

Jessada Jantharak,

Suparat Iamtan

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In the ongoing probe into last week's Grand Park Avenue Hotel fire, Thong Lor police superintendant Pol Col Rattasak Raksalam said yesterday police had interviewed witnesses and gathered enough evidence to file a charge of recklessness leading to death against related persons.

Police would issue a summons warrant for the building's owner company in seven days.

The fire on March 8 in the Soi Sukhumvit 22 hotel's fifthfloor reception hall caused the death of two Russian tourists and injured some 20 others.

Hotel executives say they have not yet met with police, and authorities are waiting for forensic results to determine the cause of the fire - as well as evidence from related agencies including the Klong Toei district office, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) public works department, and the Engineering Institute of Thailand.

The BMA has vowed to complete highrise regulation amendments in three months.

Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol MajGeneral Anuchai Lekbumrung said the Russian Consulate had told police investigators that relatives of the deceased tourists believed the fire had been an accident and the procedure to return the bodies for religious ceremonies was underway.

Auncha said criminal code prosecution against those involved in the hotel fire was pending forensic results. Prosecution under the Building Control Act was also waiting for a Klong Toei district office's police complaint against two persons named as the building owners. Police have not heard from the owners yet.

Anucha said in the Asoke Fico Place fire on March 3, which police were investigating, only one out of some 20 companies using the building had reported fire damage to police. Anucha said police hadn't filed charges against anyone pending forensic results, but 10 witnesses were to be interviewed, mostly tenants.

Meanwhile, at the Grand Park Avenue, Engineering Institute of Thailand secretarygeneral Thanes Weerasiri, who led BMA public works officials to inspect the fire scene, said the blaze had not affected the building's structure. The initial inspection details would be sent to the district office in two days for use in legal action, he said. After another thorough engineering inspection, the building should be ready to resume operations. He suggested however the hotel hire a credible engineering institute to inspect, design and assess the repairs before reuse.

The Bangkok Council's special committee on safety measures in tall buildings, extralarge buildings, public gathering buildings and entertainment venues had its first meeting yesterday with related agencies. It assigned Prawet Councillor Kitpol Cherdchukitkul to lead the task of finding solutions and amending highrise control and safety regulations.

Bangkok Council chairman Suthichai Weerakulsoonthorn said they would discuss building control regulation 1992 amendments to improve fire prevention system efficiency, the adding of warning devices and sprinklers as well as providing harsher punishments for landlords and negligent state officials.

Considering of the draft and its amendment should take less than three months to put into effect, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

[toenail]

-Shouldn't city officials of various departments be held responsible also for not doing yearly inspections on buildings and inforcing safety standards? We all know how these "ordinances" or written safety standards in the city are ignored.

[noitom]

What kind of "summons warrant" is it? Is it a warrant for his arrest on charges of manslaughter? Or just a summons to appear down at the local police room for a "chew the fat and a few photos session?" Why isn't the newspaper clear on the nature of this warrant and charges? Also, as the previous poster observed, why is the press calling into question and raising the need for "summonses" for those public officials "failing" to do their duty to safeguard the public by proper inspections?"

[EyesWideOpen]

Would love to see the BMA person responsible for the inspection of this building have charges filed against him as well. The BMA cannot say it was inspected 13 years ago, and the parking structure seemed fine at the time. The BMA cannot have their cake and eat it too. Either these type of buildings are inspected on a regular basis and are safe, or they are NOT inspected, and Bangkok buildings are like the wild west where any modification can be done at the owner's whim, whether safe or not..

Thailand is coming up with a real black eye on this matter. There needs to be a cleanup on the inspection process, and the corrupt officials that accepted backhanders to ignore safety issues need to log some jail time. The Santika pub fire keeps springing to mind, but am pretty sure the Thai officials ( police) involved in that tragedy did not go to jail.......

[webfact]

Engineering Institute of Thailand Inspects Fire-Hit Hotel

BANGKOK: -- The Engineering Institute of Thailand inspected the Grand Park Avenue Hotel after a fire caused the death of two Russian tourists and injured 20 others. Initially, the inspector said the blaze had not affected the building's structure and that the building is in a stable condition.

Engineering Institute of Thailand Secretary-General Thanet Weerasiri, along with officials from the Engineering Institute of Thailand and Bangkok’s Public Works have inspected the Grand Park Avenue Hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 22 after a fire on March 8 caused the death of two Russian tourists and injured 20 others.

Thanet disclosed that the initial inspection focused on beams, pillars, and floors four to six, since the blaze began at the fifth floor. From the inspection, mirrors, carpets, and plywood, have been destroyed. However, the blaze had not affected the building's structure and that the building is in a stable condition.

Furthermore, it was found that sprinklers were only installed in the kitchen, not in the reception hall, where the fire began. However, the owner of the building was suggested to dispatch engineering institutions to inspect the building precisely, to ensure strength and durability before reopening.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-14

[anterian]

I used to think Thailand was a developing nation, it still is, but I now know it is retrograde motion.

[MEL1]

"Thanes Weerasiri suggested, however, the hotel hire a credible engineering institute to inspect, design and assess the repairs before reuse."

A What? A credible engineering institute.

Would he be suggesting that there are Thai engineering institutes that are non-credible?

Looks like a long trip abroad for the hotel owner, to find a credible institute.

-mel.

Edited March 14, 2012 by MEL1

[chrisinth]

-Shouldn't city officials of various departments be held responsible also for not doing yearly inspections on buildings and inforcing safety standards? We all know how these "ordinances" or written safety standards in the city are ignored.

Yes they should. Thanks toenail, thought I was the only one looking at it from this side.

Also of interest is the statement that: "The BMA has vowed to complete highrise regulation amendments in three months"

It will be interesting to see if the hotel complied with the highrise regulations in the first place, and will be charged under the "amendments"

"Bangkok Council chairman Suthichai Weerakulsoonthorn said they would discuss building control regulation 1992 amendments to improve fire prevention system efficiency, the adding of warning devices and sprinklers as well as providing harsher punishments for landlords and negligent state officials."

also give a clue that perhaps they were following regulations.

[chrisinth]

What kind of "summons warrant" is it? Is it a warrant for his arrest on charges of manslaughter? Or just a summons to appear down at the local police room for a "chew the fat and a few photos session?" Why isn't the newspaper clear on the nature of this warrant and charges? Also, as the previous poster observed, why is the press calling into question and raising the need for "summonses" for those public officials "failing" to do their duty to safeguard the public by proper inspections?"

Because they don't know!

" Auncha said criminal code prosecution against those involved in the hotel fire was pending forensic results. Prosecution under the Building Control Act was also waiting for a Klong Toei district office's police complaint against two persons named as the building owners. Police have not heard from the owners yet."

[chrisinth]

Would love to see the BMA person responsible for the inspection of this building have charges filed against him as well. The BMA cannot say it was inspected 13 years ago, and the parking structure seemed fine at the time. The BMA cannot have their cake and eat it too. Either these type of buildings are inspected on a regular basis and are safe, or they are NOT inspected, and Bangkok buildings are like the wild west where any modification can be done at the owner's whim, whether safe or not..

Thailand is coming up with a real black eye on this matter. There needs to be a cleanup on the inspection process, and the corrupt officials that accepted backhanders to ignore safety issues need to log some jail time. The Santika pub fire keeps springing to mind, but am pretty sure the Thai officials ( police) involved in that tragedy did not go to jail.......

Yep. It is about time that the Bkk authorities man-up and accept at least partial responsibility, not just for this scenario, but all events concerning building inspection that have been happening recently.

[Soutpeel]

"Police would issue a summons warrant for the building's owner company in seven days"

Thus giving the owners plenty of advance notice to do a bunk from Thailand and go on an extended holiday out of Thailand until this has blown over...how is Dubai this time of year ?

Thailand's finest really show incredible intelllect in matters like this, cant get one over on these boys can ya ?

Edited March 14, 2012 by Soutpeel

[CHANGOVER]

Police ready to file charges over fatal hotel fire

But will have to wait for the perp's to arrange their alibis and excuses...so it will go on and on as usual.

[MEL1]

Police ready to file charges over fatal hotel fire

But will have to wait for the perp's to arrange their alibis and excuses...so it will go on and on as usual.

And on and on and on Ariston.