Phuket jail term suspended for Tiger Disco inferno deaths

[Lite Beer]

Phuket jail term suspended for Tiger Disco inferno deaths
Saroj Kueprasertkij

Phuket Governor at the time Tri Augkaradech and other officials inspect the remains of the Tiger Disco after the fire claimed the lives of two tourists and two Thais. Photo: The Phuket News / file

PHUKET: Tiger Group CEO Piya Isaramalai and Sara Entertainment Co Ltd have been found guilty of all charges against them for the lethal blaze at the busy Tiger Discotheque nightclub on Soi Bangla, Patong, that killed four people and injured 11 others in the early hours of August 17, 2012.

Piya Isaramalai and Sara Entertainment were found guilty of causing death by negligence, causing physical and mental injury and trading after hours, Phuket Prosecutor Patthira Phumisutthaphol confirmed.

The sentences for all three charges against both parties were handed down on July 20, she added.

“The court sentenced Piya Isaramalai to three years in prison and he and Sara Entertainment were fined a total of B600,000,” Ms Patthira said.

“As Piya had never been charged or imprisoned before, the court reduced the penalty to two years’ suspended sentence.”

The maximum penalty for causing death through negligence is 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to B20,000, Ms Patthira confirmed.

By court order, Piya must report to his probation officer six times in two years, Ms Patthira added.

Piya and Sara Entertainment were also ordered to pay a combined B4 million in compensation to the families of those who died in the blaze, and a further B1,614,862 for funeral services and other expenses related to the deaths of the four people.

The flames claimed the lives of British tourist Michael Tzouvanni 24; French tourist Emmanuel Becard 30; Thai nationals Duangporn Budklor, 34, and Nipaphat Sudtasorn, 36. (See story here.)

Tiger Group lawyer and vice president Thamrongsak Boonrak confirmed that Piya and Sara Entertainment will not appeal the verdicts or sentences handed down.

However, he told The Phuket News that the family of one of the foreign victims has refused to accept court-ordered compensation.

“They have asked for more money, so they have to file the case to court again,” he said.

“We have lost over B137 million in this case during the past two years,” added Mr Thamrongsak. “We have to support all of our workers in 47 bars and take care of so many things.

“I hope this case will come to an end very soon or otherwise the Tiger Group will come to an end first. And if we come to an end, can you imagine that how many people will be out of jobs in Phuket?”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-jail-term-suspended-for-tiger-disco-inferno-deaths-54018.php

-- Phuket News 2015-09-08

[TVGerry]

Suspended. Of course we're not surprised they won't spend a day in jail.

“We have lost over B137 million in this case during the past two years,” added Mr Thamrongsak. “We have to support all of our workers in 47 bars and take care of so many things.

“I hope this case will come to an end very soon or otherwise the Tiger Group will come to an end first. And if we come to an end, can you imagine that how many people will be out of jobs in Phuket?”

Wow. People have died and this idiot just doesn't get it does he?

[clockman]

Justice in Thailand. Is a distant bell, rarely heard!

[steelepulse]

Unbelievable, but we all knew this was coming. I wonder how much of the 137 million went into the case, cough cough. These guys are hilarious, the end of the article was all about "me" and not a single "sorry, our fault, we fill terrible and will try to help the victims" etc. Oh no, it was all about "me".

[surangw]

probably just flunkies and the real persons responsible never got charged.

or they had some dirt on the persons making the decision, and promised to keep quiet if they did not serve time.

[doremifasol]

So dam predictable...........

[american12bthai]

Riddle:

If all the criminals in phuket had no jobs, would anyone care?

Every single entertainment, banking, housing, even the bus lines... are full of scams. When taking a bus to phuket the driver will stop off somewhere where you will be asked to pay for transportation to leave phuket. THis is a scam.

My heart goes out to the families whose land, house, business that the banks and lawyers have stolen from their hard work. I will continue to promote to my friends and family to never go there. ... nor any thai scam island.

2 cents.

[axact]

What purpose would jailing them do ?

I suspect a very large percentage of nightclubs are no different than this place in regard to health and safety. With no efficient policing of regulations, a prison sentence for these guys wouldn't have been a deterrent, owners will just ensure they have stool pigeons in place.

This is a worldwide problem, often fatal nightclub fires unearth breaches of regulations even in the west.

In a country where human life is cheap and ensuring peoples safety is an avoidable business expense why should they bother, the chance of it happening to their nightclub is pretty small in % terms.

Yes I know the reasons why they should bother but thats a falang viewpoint and this is Thailand with that special ingredient, Thainess.

[axact]

Riddle:

If all the criminals in phuket had no jobs, would anyone care?

Every single entertainment, banking, housing, even the bus lines... are full of scams. When taking a bus to phuket the driver will stop off somewhere where you will be asked to pay for transportation to leave phuket. THis is a scam.

My heart goes out to the families whose land, house, business that the banks and lawyers have stolen from their hard work. I will continue to promote to my friends and family to never go there. ... nor any thai scam island.

2 cents.

2 cents worth, I think you overvalue yourself. What scam happened in this case ? Where is the relevance in your post to the subject this thread is about ?

[NamKangMan]

Suspended. Of course we're not surprised they won't spend a day in jail.

“We have lost over B137 million in this case during the past two years,” added Mr Thamrongsak. “We have to support all of our workers in 47 bars and take care of so many things.

“I hope this case will come to an end very soon or otherwise the Tiger Group will come to an end first. And if we come to an end, can you imagine that how many people will be out of jobs in Phuket?”

Wow. People have died and this idiot just doesn't get it does he?

"Wow. People have died and this idiot just doesn't get it does he?" - he gets it alright. He just doesn't care.

[robertthebruce]

This should be published Worldwide... And let the World see the true Thai Justice System.....

[NamKangMan]

This should be published Worldwide... And let the World see the true Thai Justice System.....

This is "Phuket Justice" - not Thai Justice.

Phuket is a different country to Thailand.

At least a couple of people were sentenced in the Bangkok nightclub fire.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14988134

[NOC]

What purpose would jailing them do ?

I suspect a very large percentage of nightclubs are no different than this place in regard to health and safety. With no efficient policing of regulations, a prison sentence for these guys wouldn't have been a deterrent, owners will just ensure they have stool pigeons in place.

This is a worldwide problem, often fatal nightclub fires unearth breaches of regulations even in the west.

In a country where human life is cheap and ensuring peoples safety is an avoidable business expense why should they bother, the chance of it happening to their nightclub is pretty small in % terms.

Yes I know the reasons why they should bother but thats a falang viewpoint and this is Thailand with that special ingredient, Thainess.

That special ingredient, Thainess, has a guaranteed way of making people hate Thailand. That's a falang point of view for ya'.

[slipperylobster]

The purpose of jail is to prevent people like this from causing death to customers in the future, and to get the word out that safety issues are important.

[kotsak]

Another day in the land of F.U.B.A.R

[BwindiBoy]

Another day in the land of F.U.B.A.R

F.U.B.A.R.B.U.N.D.Y. surely. I agree with an earlier post; they just don't get it. The concept of justice is lost on them and the thought that other countries look at them in horror and disbelief simply doesn't cross their minds.

[hawker9000]

Suspended sentence. Why yes, of course.

And they wonder why the world mocks them.

[Shermanator]

Justice served, pockets filled, thank you!

[MobileContent]

Not surprised at all. A lot of people got richer.

[Phuketboy]

What a load of bullshit. Support all their workers in 47 bars? They don't have workers in 47 bars. The bar owners have their own staff and pay them themselves. The only people Tiger pay are their own staff in the discotheque upstairs, security and cleaners. Tiger don't give a shit about the bars or the bar owners, they only care about their rent and key money. I wonder how they would go with a case for tax evasion being that the bars pay 5 million key money and 50000 - 70000 rent per month but only a fraction of this is declared. Proof is in the contracts and rent recipes each month. They might have their little hands under the table with local courts, but how would they go with the revenue department of Thailand…… just saying

[CiaranO]

As is always said in Thailand there is one law for the rich and one law for the poor. Its a shame the Junta never bothered to address this clear in-balance in Thai society but oh wait - The Junta are all loaded too.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

So sad... Ridiculous. Outrageous. Predictable. Amazing Thailand in the WORST way again and again.

[waldroj]

Suspended. Of course we're not surprised they won't spend a day in jail.

“We have lost over B137 million in this case during the past two years,” added Mr Thamrongsak. “We have to support all of our workers in 47 bars and take care of so many things.

“I hope this case will come to an end very soon or otherwise the Tiger Group will come to an end first. And if we come to an end, can you imagine that how many people will be out of jobs in Phuket?”

Wow. People have died and this idiot just doesn't get it does he?

He gets it alright, it's us farang who don't.

A smile and a wai (in true Thai style) and everything's sorted. Never, ever, going to change a culture that is so mired in shit (by Western standards).

Remember what happened to the owner of the Santika Club? Refresh your memory at http://www.news.com.au/world/thai-nightclub-owner-wisuk-sejsawat-acquitted-in-fatal-new-years-fire/story-fndir2ev-1226744925920

The owner, Wisuk Setsawat (alias Sia Khao), was found not guilty of any responsibility by an Appeal Court.

[Lupatria]

While others get 5 years in jail for LM...

[spidermike007]

Suspended. Of course we're not surprised they won't spend a day in jail.

“We have lost over B137 million in this case during the past two years,” added Mr Thamrongsak. “We have to support all of our workers in 47 bars and take care of so many things.

“I hope this case will come to an end very soon or otherwise the Tiger Group will come to an end first. And if we come to an end, can you imagine that how many people will be out of jobs in Phuket?”

Wow. People have died and this idiot just doesn't get it does he?

An extremely callous reply. And an extremely poor decision by the judge, who is amongst the weakest judges in a country, world famous for weak judges, with little integrity, morals, nor any sense of what is good for Thai society in the long term. Is there a possibility this was an honest judge? You decide for yourself. Was there a possibility these guys, who were very obviously guilty of multiple counts of negligent homicide, were ever going to serve time? The answer was obvious from the start of the trial. Will the perpetrator of the Dark Tao murders serve time? Not when he is not even on trial. Does anyone guilty of truly heinous offenses here, serve time if they are wealthy or well connected? Again, you decide for yourself.

The fact that Mr. Thamrongsak wants us to feel compassion for the difficulties his 47 bar (which overcharge for everything) empire has faced, is in itself a remarkable admission of where his heart is at. He is a most unimpressive man. Let us award him the Thai Black Heart of the year award.

[shaurene]

Riddle:

If all the criminals in phuket had no jobs, would anyone care?

Every single entertainment, banking, housing, even the bus lines... are full of scams. When taking a bus to phuket the driver will stop off somewhere where you will be asked to pay for transportation to leave phuket. THis is a scam.

My heart goes out to the families whose land, house, business that the banks and lawyers have stolen from their hard work. I will continue to promote to my friends and family to never go there. ... nor any thai scam island.

2 cents.

If they go bust, someone will buy the group of bars and carry on so no loss of jobs. A lawyer, what a load of crap. Money in the right places do wonders.

Thailand, land of smiles and jokes.

[Docno]

"By court order, Piya must report to his probation officer six times in two years"

Wow - that's going to be a real strain. Probably have the probation meeting over a couple of pints at one of his pubs. On the house, of course, because this Piya is obviously an upstanding guy.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

While others get 5 years in jail for LM...

Try 20+ years and longer....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/846946-report-of-recent-military-courts-rulings-on-lese-majeste/

[Halion]

What purpose would jailing them do ?

I suspect a very large percentage of nightclubs are no different than this place in regard to health and safety. With no efficient policing of regulations, a prison sentence for these guys wouldn't have been a deterrent, owners will just ensure they have stool pigeons in place.

This is a worldwide problem, often fatal nightclub fires unearth breaches of regulations even in the west.

In a country where human life is cheap and ensuring peoples safety is an avoidable business expense why should they bother, the chance of it happening to their nightclub is pretty small in % terms.

Yes I know the reasons why they should bother but thats a falang viewpoint and this is Thailand with that special ingredient, Thainess.

Your point is ? Spewing out a myriad of differences between Thailand and the west simply does nothing to address the problem. On code violations alone he should have gone to jail and to have his sentence reduced to 2 years ,suspended because he had a prior clean record apart fro being responsible for the lives that were lost in that fire .

Going on about Thailand's Thainess is not a problem as long as it is not used to deflect from right and wrong.

[little mary sunshine]

Four people dead because of negligence and the Company

Is complaining about losing money??? What are the names

Of your other 47 Clubs/Bars.....I will make it a point to never

Go into any of them.... Buying their way out of jail, Sick!!!!