Cliff Notes – 17 wanted over deadly Bangkok tower collapse
- A Thai court has issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals linked to the collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper, which claimed 89 lives and left seven missing.
- The building, intended for the State Audit Office, collapsed during a 7.7-magnitude earthquake, raising serious concerns about construction standards and safety compliance.
- Those charged include executives and engineers from seven companies; investigations are ongoing, with one prominent figure, Premchai Karnasuta, named in relation to the case.
17 wanted over deadly Bangkok tower collapse
A court in Thailand issued arrest warrants on Thursday for 17 people in connection with the deadly collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper.
The 30-story tower, which was under construction and intended to house the State Audit Office, was reduced to rubble in seconds when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Thailand and neighbouring Myanmar on March 28.
Authorities say they have recovered 89 bodies from the rubble of the collapsed tower. Seven people are still missing.
The tower was the only building in Bangkok that collapsed. The suddenness and speed of its collapse have raised questions about the quality of its construction.
Deputy Bangkok Police Chief Police Major General Somkuan Puengsap said the charges included violations of building codes that resulted in death and carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The authorities are investigating the cause of the building collapse and have not yet released their findings.
Who was charged?
The police said those charged include executives and engineers from seven companies involved in designing, constructing, and supervising the building of the collapsed tower.
Of the 17 individuals sought by police, only one has been identified: Premchai Karnasuta, the former president of Italian Thai Development Plc., Thailand’s largest construction company.
Italian Thai Development has held meetings with investors and stated that the company is cooperating with the investigation.
Premchai was convicted and sentenced to more than three years in prison for poaching protected species in 2021.
Rangers caught him at a jungle campsite in a wildlife sanctuary with carcasses of protected animals, including a black Indochinese leopard.
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Sources
Construction tycoon among 17 wanted in Thailand over deadly tower collapse – CNN
Thailand: 17 wanted over deadly Bangkok tower collapse-DW