Latest news with #Premchai
The Star
17-05-2025
- The Star
17 charged in fatal tower collapse
Facing the law: Premchai arriving on a wheelchair at Bang Sue Police Station in Bangkok. — AP A construction magnate, builders, designers and engineers surrendered to police on criminal negligence charges for the deadly collapse of a Bangkok high-rise in the March 28 earthquake that hit Myanmar. Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, as well as designers and engineers were among 17 charged with the felony of professional negligence causing death, Bangkok deputy police chief Noppasin Poonsawat said. Noppasin said those who met police yesterday formally denied the charges. Several have previously issued public denials in response to allegations in the media. Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction and a small number of other people remain unaccounted for. The building, which was to become a new State Audit Office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centred in neighbouring Myanmar. The search for victims at the site has been halted, though efforts to identify remains through DNA will continue. Noppasin said at a news conference that evidence and testimony from experts suggested the building plan did not meet standards and codes. The Bangkok Post newspaper said police had also determined the project showed 'structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel'. Thai media have reported allegations of wrongdoing in the project almost every day since the building's collapse, many of them involving irregular documentation for the project. A Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 on the negligence charge on Thursday. Noppasin said 15 turned themselves in at a police station in the morning and the remaining two were expected to do so later. The epicentre of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city, and the capital Naypyidaw. Premchai's case is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of wildlife poaching and served about three years in prison. He was found guilty of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons after park rangers found a hunting party at a wildlife sanctuary in 2018 with carcasses of a rare black panther, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer. The panther had been butchered and its meat cooked for soup. — AP
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Thai tycoon surrenders over deadly skyscraper collapse
A Thai construction tycoon turned himself in on Friday to face charges of alleged negligence over the collapse of a skyscraper that killed dozens of people in a powerful earthquake, police said. The 30-storey Bangkok tower crumbled in seconds, killing 89 people, mostly construction workers, when a magnitude-7.7 tremor hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The building being constructed to house the State Audit Office was the only structure to collapse in the Thai capital, raising serious concerns about safety standards and oversight. A Thai court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for 17 people on charges of "professional negligence causing death", including Premchai Karnasuta, CEO of Italian-Thai Development (ITD), one of the kingdom's largest construction firms. Premchai and 14 other suspects reported to Bangkok's Bang Sue Police station where "they denied all charges", district police chief Sanong Sangmanee told AFP, adding the remaining suspects were due Monday. If convicted, the 71-year-old magnate faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht ($6,000). Livestream footage from local outlet The Reporters showed Premchai in a wheelchair as officers escorted him from the police station to court. A court official told AFP that Premchai will be held in pre-trial detention while prosecutors continue their investigation. This is not the tycoon's first legal tangle. In 2021 a Thai court sentenced him to three years and two months in prison for poaching protected wildlife, including a black panther. He was released early in 2023 as part of a group of inmates granted clemency for good behaviour. According to public filings with the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Premchai owns nearly 12 percent of ITD's shares. Thai justice department investigators said Friday they will probe cement plates used in the tower's construction to gather further evidence for their case. tak/jts/stu
France 24
16-05-2025
- France 24
Thai tycoon surrenders over deadly skyscraper collapse
The 30-storey Bangkok tower crumbled in seconds, killing 89 people, mostly construction workers, when a magnitude-7.7 tremor hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The building being constructed to house the State Audit Office was the only structure to collapse in the Thai capital, raising serious concerns about safety standards and oversight. A Thai court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for 17 people on charges of "professional negligence causing death", including Premchai Karnasuta, CEO of Italian-Thai Development (ITD), one of the kingdom's largest construction firms. Premchai and 14 other suspects reported to Bangkok's Bang Sue Police station where "they denied all charges", district police chief Sanong Sangmanee told AFP, adding the remaining suspects were due Monday. If convicted, the 71-year-old magnate faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht ($6,000). Livestream footage from local outlet The Reporters showed Premchai in a wheelchair as officers escorted him from the police station to court. A court official told AFP that Premchai will be held in pre-trial detention while prosecutors continue their investigation. This is not the tycoon's first legal tangle. In 2021 a Thai court sentenced him to three years and two months in prison for poaching protected wildlife, including a black panther. He was released early in 2023 as part of a group of inmates granted clemency for good behaviour. According to public filings with the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Premchai owns nearly 12 percent of ITD's shares. Thai justice department investigators said Friday they will probe cement plates used in the tower's construction to gather further evidence for their case. © 2025 AFP
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Straits Times
Thai construction tycoon surrenders to police over collapse of Bangkok building
Mr Premchai (in wheelchair) reported to officers at Bang Sue Police Station after the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB)'s issued arrest warrants for 17 suspects linked to the incident. PHOTO: THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK BANGKOK - Mr Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development (ITD), surrendered to police on May 16 over an arrest warrant linked to the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in March. Accompanied by his personal lawyer, Mr Premchai reported to officers at Bang Sue Police Station after the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB)'s issued arrest warrants for 17 suspects linked to the incident. The case involves the collapse of a 30-storey building in Bangkok's Chatuchak district on March 28, triggered by an earthquake, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. The suspects face Penal Code charges for professional negligence in building design, supervision, or construction that resulted in injuries and deaths. Mr Premchai arrived at the station at 8am in a private van, assisted by close associates who provided a wheelchair. As he was wheeled into the station, reporters asked whether he admitted guilt, felt concerned or wished to apologise to the public. He remained silent and did not respond to any questions. Other suspects, including engineer Pimol Charoenying, who certified the original design, and Kriengsak Kowattana, executive vice-president of ITD, also appeared at the station accompanied by their legal counsel. Police officers at Bang Sue Police Station erected metal barricades to maintain order and prevent the media from entering the interview area. The SAO building was constructed by the ITD-CREC Joint Venture, in collaboration with China Railway Number 10 (Thailand). The joint venture is currently under investigation by several government agencies, with inquiries divided into three key areas: the use of Thai nominees holding shares on behalf of foreign nationals, the use of substandard or non-compliant construction materials, and the cause of the building's collapse. According to a report by Krungthep Turakij, China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) is linked to over 14 affiliated companies. Three Thai nationals are listed as directors and shareholders across these firms, which have collectively signed at least 29 public procurement contracts with the government, with a total value exceeding 22 billion baht (S$859 million). The company is reported to operate using a joint venture model with other private entities. Typically, it begins by purchasing government bid documents and then partners with well-capitalised Thai firms to form joint ventures before submitting their bids. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
