Building collapse in Bangkok sees indictment of 23 individuals by authorities
Breaking News: Charges Filed Against ITD President and Others Over Collapse of State Audit Office Tower
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake on March 28, 2025, that struck Bangkok, the State Audit Office tower collapsed, resulting in the tragic loss of 92 lives. The latest updates reveal that 23 individuals and corporate entities, including Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), and executives from China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd, have been formally charged in connection with the collapse.
The charges encompass professional negligence in design, supervision, and construction, which failed to meet safety and engineering standards. Additionally, there are allegations of document forgery and use of forged documents, including conspiracy related to these offenses, as well as violations of construction and procurement laws.
Regarding bidding collusion, ongoing investigations by the Department of Special Investigation and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) are looking into suspected irregularities involving possibly up to 70 state officials linked to the project’s tendering process. Police have submitted relevant documents to the anti-graft watchdog to support this.
Preliminary investigations have concluded that design and construction flaws led to the collapse of the State Audit Office tower. The building collapse was attributed mainly to these flaws, as well as the use of substandard materials, rather than just the earthquake alone.
Premchai Karnasuta and others have denied the charges, and all suspects are currently detained without bail. China Railway No. 10 executive Chuanling Zhang was arrested as part of the investigation into the case.
The investigation is multifaceted, addressing engineering failures, legal violations, and potential corrupt practices in bidding and procurement linked to both Thai and Chinese companies involved in the project. Lawyers for China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd could not be reached for comment, while ITD did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment regarding the building collapse.
The SAO building collapse is a significant incident that has raised concerns about construction safety and regulations in Thailand. The indictment was made by Thai prosecutors on Thursday, and the indicted suspects include the head of ITD and a Chinese state-owned firm. The construction of the SAO building was a joint venture between ITD and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd.
The partially built 30-storey tower was the only building to collapse from tremors emanating from the 7.7 magnitude quake in neighbouring Myanmar. At least 95 people were killed in the incident, most of whom were construction laborers.
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety standards and regulations in construction projects, and the consequences of failing to do so. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.
[1] Bangkok Post
[2] Reuters
[3] The Nation
[4] Khaosod English
[5] The Guardian
The indictment of the ITD president and others raises questions about the roles of finance and money management in the manufacturing industry, particularly in construction, as allegations of corruption and bidding collusion have been made. The tragedy of the collapsed State Audit Office tower, a joint venture between ITD and a Chinese state-owned firm, highlights the need for justice and accountability in the crime-and-justice sector, as well as the importance of general-news reports to keep the public informed.
