Tiger Disco trial over inferno deaths to start next month

[webfact]

Tiger Disco trial over inferno deaths to start next month
Phuket Gazette


Tiger Group CEO Piya Isaramalai is facing charges of negligence causing death, which can bring a penalty of 10 years in prison. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- The long-awaited manslaughter trial over the deaths of four people in Patong's Tiger Disco inferno, in August 2012, will begin next month.

Tiger Group CEO Piya Isaramalai and Sara Entertainment Co Ltd each face a charge of causing death through negligence under Section 291 of the Thai Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

“They also face charges of causing physical and mental injury and trading after hours,” Phuket Provincial Chief Public Prosecutor Chiengsean Panhya told the Phuket Gazette.

“By the end of the month, both parties will be in court to explain what evidence they have to support their plea,” said Mr Chiengsean.

“Then the judge will set a date for the first witness testimony.”

Both parties were formally charged on July 10 last year, after a lengthy investigation and an appeal by Tiger Group legal counsel Thamrongsak Boonrak for a “fair investigation”.

Tiger Group CEO Piya posted bail the same day on surety of an undisclosed amount paid in cash (story here).

The popular night venue erupted into flames at about 4am on August 17, 2012, while hundreds of patrons were still inside (story here).

British tourist Michael Tzouvanni, 24; French tourist Emmanuel Becard, 30; and Thai nationals Duangporn Budklor, 34; and Nipaphat Sudtasorn, 36, died in the inferno.

The trial comes after a series of delays in securing evidence, despite Thailand’s leading forensic police being dispatched from Bangkok to investigate the fire.

It also comes after a damning report by the Building Society Inspectors and Officers Association (BSA) and the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA), which cited failure by nightclub management to adhere to multiple fire-safety regulations.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Tiger-Disco-trial-over-inferno-deaths-to-start-next-month-23248.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-01-11

[Costas2008]

"It also comes after a damning report by the Building Society Inspectors and Officers Association (BSA) and the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA), which cited failure by nightclub management to adhere to multiple fire-safety regulations."

Hope he goes to prison for loooooooooooooong time

Although.....with the money he's got.......doubt it very much!

Edited January 11, 2014 by Costas2008

[terryp]

this parasite should get life in prison , but this is Thailand and I bet he will never serve 1 day ..only appeal and re-appeal after being given a possible 1 year

Hopefully his mafia gang of associates will get prison time......This man is a lier thief and a criminal but with the Patong police in his pocket whos suprised

[sjjmmi]

Is he still in Thailand or some other country for some hospital treatment

[Ulic]

Well everybody knows it operates after official closing times. But that does not cause fires. I am more interested in

there use of flammable foam for sculptures and decoration and the substandard wiring that passes for code here.

If there is any justice someone will spend a long time in jail. However with the length of time that has passed I am

sure thick envelopes found there way into powerful hands.

[kingstonkid]

If he is found guilty no matter what will that not give the families and people that were at the club leave to sue his assets off.

[thhMan]

So when has Thailand ever given a d@mn about safety?

The horse bolted years ago...

[noikrit]

Probably same outcome as that tragic club fire in BKK ...... Nothing .......

Edited January 11, 2014 by noikrit

[arthurboy]

Same, same...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santika_Club_fire and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7981841.stm

Note the dit about the 'furious policeman' in source 1.

Please Insert emoticon of choice.

Edited January 11, 2014 by arthurboy

[hansgruber]

Pay the tea money, Pay fine, pay compensation, back to business.

Don't think for a second that anyone is going to jail here.

[MMarlow]

Probably same outcome as that tragic club fire in BKK ...... Nothing .......

Apart from the jail sentences for both the owner of Santika and the owner of the company that laid on the fireworks. And an order for the latter to pay 8.5m baht compensation.

[BigC]

Well everybody knows it operates after official closing times. But that does not cause fires. I am more interested in

there use of flammable foam for sculptures and decoration and the substandard wiring that passes for code here.

If there is any justice someone will spend a long time in jail. However with the length of time that has passed I am

sure thick envelopes found there way into powerful hands.

I might be wrong but man slaughter is when someone try's to kill someone and fails

In this case I cannot imagine the bosses wanted to kill their customers

Personally if I was a causality or had a family member die I would prefer compensation of a large amount

No long amount of prison time is going to heal my wounds or bring my family back

[Langsuan Man]

Probably same outcome as that tragic club fire in BKK ...... Nothing .......

Apart from the jail sentences for both the owner of Santika and the owner of the company that laid on the fireworks. And an order for the latter to pay 8.5m baht compensation.

You might want to re-check your facts

Thai court acquits Santika nightclub owner after deadly inferno

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/676459-thai-court-acquits-santika-nightclub-owner-after-deadly-inferno/

[marko kok prong]

Well everybody knows it operates after official closing times. But that does not cause fires. I am more interested in

there use of flammable foam for sculptures and decoration and the substandard wiring that passes for code here.

If there is any justice someone will spend a long time in jail. However with the length of time that has passed I am

sure thick envelopes found there way into powerful hands.

I might be wrong but man slaughter is when someone try's to kill someone and fails

In this case I cannot imagine the bosses wanted to kill their customers

Personally if I was a causality or had a family member die I would prefer compensation of a large amount

No long amount of prison time is going to heal my wounds or bring my family back

I'm always intrigued by this - why would you want to make cash out of the death of a supposedly loved one ?

is this not standard procedure in fatal road accidents/ accidents etc in thailand,compensation for the deceased to thier family,from what i have read here this seems very important.

[BigC]

Well everybody knows it operates after official closing times. But that does not cause fires. I am more interested in

there use of flammable foam for sculptures and decoration and the substandard wiring that passes for code here.

If there is any justice someone will spend a long time in jail. However with the length of time that has passed I am

sure thick envelopes found there way into powerful hands.

I might be wrong but man slaughter is when someone try's to kill someone and fails

In this case I cannot imagine the bosses wanted to kill their customers

Personally if I was a causality or had a family member die I would prefer compensation of a large amount

No long amount of prison time is going to heal my wounds or bring my family back

I'm always intrigued by this - why wouldn you want to make cash out of the death of a supposedly loved one ?

Because money shall

Look after my family putting someone in jail shall do nothing for my family also clearing with money in Thailand is. Ore likely going to get you a result than pushing the jail button

Also taken someone's money from them can hurt someone just as badly as a jail sentence

The amount of money the suspect has to pay in legal fees extra and costs won't guarantee a conviction

I would prefer money to go to my family if I was dead so they could make the most of the time with out me

Specially if I am the main bread winner for my wife and kids

One thing I have notice about people who die in thailand and the rest of the world is not only do they have to deal with the death of their family but they are left with. All the financial worries that go with it

Land owner ship

Who the assets get passed on to kids schools

And so on

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Edited January 12, 2014 by BigC

[stevenl]

I might be wrong but man slaughter is when someone try's to kill someone and fails<snip>

That would be attempted murder. Man slaughter would be when somebody dies but the perpetrator did not have the intend to kill.

[BigC]

I might be wrong but man slaughter is when someone try's to kill someone and fails

That would be attempted murder. Man slaughter would be when somebody dies but the perpetrator did not have the intend to kill.

Yes you are right. I am not really clued up about all the facts my theory is a basic theory as in general if me or my family were killed in an accident which was out in place by someone making some mistakes then personally for my paying for their mistake in cash would be for me or my family as a person more than seeing someone locked up

I know maybe not in this case where someone has shot another person and the killer is looking like he is free but now does not have a baht to his name

Life can be very hard out here with out money specially if you are used to having it. It is another form of punishment where the killer might prefer to be in jail.

The can be a big head ache for everybody if you want to rely on it

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Rorri]

Well, fellow readers, this case has previously been "postponed', the police said they need more investigation, this some time after the fire..months in fact, so I would not be surprised if it is "postponed" again.

[Emster23]

There is the saying "time is money" but here "time costs money" re: "The trial comes after a series of delays in securing evidence, despite Thailand’s leading forensic police being dispatched from Bangkok to investigate the fire".

"Also taken someone's money from them can hurt someone just as badly as a jail sentence" I disagree. If this were true and they were equal, then we would see some opting for jail time. And the standard theory is that the punishment is imposed as much to deter others who do not act according to rules as it is to punish. Could probably write expense of payoff as a business expense on taxes, but then again, who pays taxes, other than VAT?

While they are at it with indictments for negligent homicide (I think that is what charge ought to be), how about adding the government inspectors who perhaps signed off on "inspections" and said the place was up to snuff? The police who looked the other way for a fee and allowed this place to stay open after hours? It was a group effort you know....

[godden]

the only reason there is a trial as i can see, ther must be some money in it for some one, certainly not justice as a falang would know it.

[Goldieinkathu]

the only reason there is a trial as i can see, ther must be some money in it for some one, certainly not justice as a falang would know it.

Michael Tzouvanni's family are VERY wealthy from what i have read. I doubt they will be fighting for money. I'm sure justice will be all they want.I hope they get it. For all who lost loved ones, they deserve it!

[DaveHKT]

Any news on this trial?

I have to admit to being away for a few days since February so I could have missed something but surely this trial went ahead as scheduled, maybe any TV members who have seen or heard more up to date news can advise.

.

[Somtamnication]

I know the sentence already: 2 years suspended and 48 hours of community service and empty that bank account prior to sentencing.