📰 Breaking: Thai Construction Tycoon Among 17 Wanted Over Bangkok Tower Collapse That Killed 89

Photo 3 months ago

In the aftermath of one of Thailand’s deadliest construction disasters, a Thai court has issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals, including Premchai Karnasuta, a prominent construction tycoon and former president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD.BK), for their alleged roles in the collapse of a 30-story skyscraper that killed at least 89 workers.

The State Audit Office tower, located in Bangkok, was the only high-rise to collapse during the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar in March but shook Thailand’s capital. The quake caused widespread panic, but it was the collapse of this partially built structure that left the nation stunned.

🔍 Ongoing Investigation and Charges

Search teams worked for six weeks to recover the dead from the rubble. Seven individuals remain missing. According to Police Major General Somkuan Puengsap, the accused face charges related to building code violations causing death, a serious offense in Thailand that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Among those charged are:

• Senior executives
• Site engineers
• Supervisors

from at least seven companies involved in the design, construction, and inspection of the now-demolished tower.

Authorities have not disclosed the full list of names yet but confirmed that Premchai Karnasuta is among them.

🛑 Previous Warnings and Red Flags

An anti-corruption watchdog had previously flagged construction irregularities, while early material tests at the site suggested the use of substandard steel. Despite these warnings, construction continued until the disaster struck.

🏗️ Corporate Reaction

Italian-Thai Development Plc, one of the country’s largest infrastructure firms, has acknowledged the legal situation and assured investors that it is fully cooperating with the investigation. Premchai has not issued a statement and could not be reached for comment.

⚖️ A Tycoon with a Checkered Past

This is not Premchai’s first brush with the law. In 2021, he was convicted and sentenced to over three years in prison for poaching protected wildlife, including the rare black Indochinese leopard, in a scandal that made global headlines.

🇹🇭 National Impact

The deadly collapse has shaken public confidence in Thailand’s construction and regulatory systems, with many calling for stricter oversight and independent safety audits for major infrastructure projects.