BANGKOK — A significant legal development has emerged from Thailand, where prosecutors have indicted 23 suspects, including prominent construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta and a Chinese state-owned firm, for their roles in the catastrophic collapse of a high-rise building during a powerful earthquake.
The Incident
On 28 March 2024, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, triggering the collapse of the partially constructed 30-storey State Audit Office building in Bangkok. This tragedy resulted in the deaths of at least 95 people, mostly construction workers, marking it as the only building to fall in the city due to the tremors.
Details of the Indictment
- Among the 23 indicted are 16 individuals and seven firms.
- Charges include breaching construction regulations and causing death through negligence.
- Some suspects additionally face allegations of forgery pertaining to engineering documents.
Premchai, who is the president of Italian-Thai Development (ITD), alongside others, denied the charges during his arrest in May. Legal representatives from the implicated parties have yet to make statements regarding the situation.
Background of Premchai Karnasuta
At 71, Premchai is already familiar with legal battles; he was previously sentenced to over three years in prison for poaching protected wildlife. Released early in 2023, he now faces the possibility of another severe legal outcome, as he may receive up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht (approximately US$6,000) if convicted in this latest case.
Next Steps
The Office of the Attorney General has submitted this case to a criminal court, where a decision is anticipated in the coming months. The complexity of the case has drawn considerable public attention, as it raises serious concerns about construction safety and accountability in Thailand.
The swift and tragic collapse of the State Audit Office building serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous building standards and the need for accountability in the construction sector.