Arrest warrants expected for groups linked to audit office collapse
Corruption unravels as investigators close in on high-profile construction scandal
Arrest warrants are anticipated to be issued next week for three groups allegedly linked to the collapse of the State Audit Office’s under-construction building following the earthquake on March 28.
Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Police Major General Noppasin Poolsawat, reported that 193 witnesses have been interviewed to date. These comprise SAO officials, relatives of those injured, contracted building designers, construction supervisors, and workers involved in the project.
The investigation has focused on collecting various forms of evidence, such as witness statements, circumstantial details, physical evidence, and documentation, including terms of reference, design, supervision, and construction contracts, as well as material samples like steel and concrete fragments.
The inquiry is centred on three groups: the design team, which includes directors and engineers from Forum Architect and Meinhardt (Thailand); the construction team, associated with ITD-CREC, a collaboration between Italian-Thai Development and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand); and the construction supervision team, comprising directors and engineers from PKW, a joint venture of PN Synchronise, KP Consultants and Management, and W and Associates Consultants.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin mentioned that the building’s 30-storey design blueprint has been submitted to the Council of Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Thailand, and experts at Chulalongkorn University. They will assess compliance with engineering and architectural standards, construction principles, and other relevant ministerial regulations, with results expected next week.
To date, investigators have collected 315 pieces of material evidence, including steel and concrete samples. While initial analysis is complete, further results are expected next week, reported Bangkok Post.
Additionally, alterations to the elevator design have been noted.
In similar news, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is actively pursuing three executives from China Railway No.10 (Thailand) Co. in connection with the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok, which occurred during the earthquake on March 28 and led to multiple fatalities.
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