Tiger Disco blaze hearings underway in Phuket

[Lite Beer]

Tiger Disco blaze hearings underway in Phuket
Matt Pond

Two foreigners and two Thais died in the blaze on August 16 2012.

PHUKET: Yesterday (April 23) saw the start of witness hearings in the criminal cases brought against the owners and management of the Tiger Disco in Patong's Bangla Rd, which burned down on August 16, 2012.

The fire fueled by plastic foam decorations on the club walls and ceiling, left two tourists and two Thai people dead.

Hearings were also scheduled for today (April 24) and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 28, 29, and 30) next week.

The hearings were originally scheduled to begin in September 2012. However, they were postponed several times for a variety of reasons including incomplete investigations by Region 8 Police.

The prosecutors in the case are pressing for conviction on charges of causing death by negligence against the Tiger Group̕s Managing Director, Piya Isaramalai, and Sara Entertainment Co, the operators of Tiger Discotheque at the time of the fire, on allegations that the four deaths were the result of excessive use of flammable decor in the disco and a short circuit in the disco's electrical system.

However, the defence has consistently countered that the fire was the result of a lightning strike.

The negligence charge carries a maximum penalty in Thai law of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to B20,000.

The hearing for the defence team has been set for May 11.

Meanwhile, The Phuket News has learned that the prosecutor for the case has changed, with Patthira Phumisutthaphol taking over from Vivath Kitjurak.

Reporting on the case has been hampered by the reluctance of court officials to allow journalists into the courtroom

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/tiger-disco-blaze-hearings-underway-in-phuket-52018.php

-- Phuket News 2015-04-24

[surangw]

I to see they were given lots of time to destroy/fabricate evidence, transfer assestts and get out of the country.

[clockman]

Thainess, covers everything.

[redandyellow]

It was no problem finding the young farang's ring afterwords was it? To identify the deceased - but to identify the real cause of the blaze would be almost impossible now..

.. that all payoffs and compromise have already happened, and identifying the root cause would do little to save (the description of the agonizing last minutes of) those poor people, as many of us read at the time. It was chilling, and still us.

My Bpen Rai just doesn't cut it.

[Langsuan Man]

Justice delayed, is justice denied

[ChrisY1]

Case dismissed very soon...!

[klauskunkel]

Reporting on the case has been hampered by the reluctance of court officials to allow journalists into the courtroom

in other words, the judge looks favorably at Tiger Group (I am not saying there are any envelopes involved, or foot massages, or somtam dinners, no I don't even imply that, at all)

[godden]

So if found guilty, some one could face as little as a 20K baht fine, less than 1 nights takings, unbelievable.

[steelepulse]

What about the lighting system that was being installed and then was hastily taken away after the fire? Photos were posted of this and by all accounts it was this lighting system that caused the fire, not lightning. Let's hope the prosecutor brings in witnesses to verify this.

No matter what started the fire, there was inadequate safety controls, highly flammable materials, and exits that were locked. Serious negligence ( and arrogance) involved.

[falangjim]

Over two years of BS before this case gets to trail. Reminds me of something on Koh Tao. A former poster said it best, Justice delayed is justice denied.

[mike324]

Did the owners of Santika fire even went to jail?

[grumpyoldman]

New one was in the works when that one went up, coincidence?

[Suffinator]

So it's taken them 2 and a half years to finally get what will be nothing short of a circus underway. Well that gave them plenty of time to pay off all the right people as as the OP states .... The negligence charge carries a maximum penalty in Thai law of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to B20,000 it'll be a 20,000 Baht fine.

Reporting on the case has been hampered by the reluctance of court officials to allow journalists into the courtroom.

Yeah can't have those pesky journalists reporting the truth now can we.

This case sinks of corruption from the top to the bottom.

[LivinginKata]

So if found guilty, some one could face as little as a 20K baht fine, less than 1 nights takings, unbelievable.

I think the new Tiger's takings is a lot lot more than 20k Baht/night.

[LuckyLew]

Did the owner at least ever give any compensation to the families of those lost, that is the usual Thai way

Give them money then and then hope it all goes away

[steelepulse]

Did the owner at least ever give any compensation to the families of those lost, that is the usual Thai way

Give them money then and then hope it all goes away

A pittance at one million baht.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Families-of-Phuket-disco-fire-accept-Bt1mn-compensation/16757

[Halion]

So Thai, just wait until the event has long been surpassed by other disaster also caused by ineptitude and carelessness and then go to trial when memories are dulled by the passing of time or money.

This country has little or no social or moral conscience.

[Jimi007]

What about the lighting system that was being installed and then was hastily taken away after the fire? Photos were posted of this and by all accounts it was this lighting system that caused the fire, not lightning. Let's hope the prosecutor brings in witnesses to verify this.

No matter what started the fire, there was inadequate safety controls, highly flammable materials, and exits that were locked. Serious negligence ( and arrogance) involved.

The lighting system must have been the cause of the lightning strike… Sarcasm, but is it? No one accepts any responsibility still after all these years. I was amazed this ever went to trial. I hope there is some kind of justice for the families who lost their loved ones in the fire.

[robertthebruce]

Its time the ''Outside World'', knew what goes on in Thailand, and that might shake them up to include ''Safety'' in every day life...

Thailand is a disgrace , but yet TAT keep trying to sell the place, to unsuspecting tourists..... Terrible...

Life is Cheap to say the least...

[surangw]

Did the owner at least ever give any compensation to the families of those lost, that is the usual Thai way

Give them money then and then hope it all goes away

the invisible form of thai insurance

[surangw]

Its time the ''Outside World'', knew what goes on in Thailand, and that might shake them up to include ''Safety'' in every day life...

Thailand is a disgrace , but yet TAT keep trying to sell the place, to unsuspecting tourists..... Terrible...

Life is Cheap to say the least...

not likely, even the terrorist killings in the south rarely make it to western media.

[Lokie]

It was no problem finding the young farang's ring afterwords was it? To identify the deceased - but to identify the real cause of the blaze would be almost impossible now..

.. that all payoffs and compromise have already happened, and identifying the root cause would do little to save (the description of the agonizing last minutes of) those poor people, as many of us read at the time. It was chilling, and still us.

My Bpen Rai just doesn't cut it.

Also chilling the speed at which they opened up shop right across the road with exactly the same M O, one flight of steep narrow stairs on main entrance/exit, another 'accident' waiting to happen, but then all the bars are now full under the new Tiger (well wouldn't say full - occupied more like, bar the front 3 or 4 on Bangla) and the old site has new bars where the small beer bars were before, wonder what the new rental takings are v the old rents...? was lucky the new club was nearly ready when the old tiger accidently caught fire from a Faulty Transformer as the patrons was 'Sheltering' from the rain in the early hours that morning...

Only good thing can say about this crock of B S is RIP to the poor people who passed away (I will not say four as numerous locals in the aftermath reckon the toll was more than that and removed along with the lighting rigs wizzed out before the Bankok boys got in Town with the CSI team)

Surprised the defence team have allowed this to actually come to court as they had things stopped a year or so back as was not convieniant for them at the time as memory serves... Bet the Thai Electricity bloke who gave the transformer an alibi will not be giving any statements this time around, he will be either pushing up daisies or has 'Moved' house

Good luck to all who go in there now, you'll need it if ever the same happens again (heaven forbid)

[exbikey]

Any further development on this issue?