Chinese men face charges for illegal entry at Bangkok disaster site
Four Chinese men are facing legal action after being caught illegally entering a restricted area where a building collapse occurred and removing 32 documents.
Police are now investigating the incident, which took place at the new State Audit Office construction site yesterday, March 30. Police Major General Napasil Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, confirmed the unauthorised removal of documents from the collapsed building.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt declared the site a public disaster area, restricting access under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act. This means only authorised personnel are allowed entry.
Police were alerted by residents who witnessed four men taking documents from the site. Coordination with relevant officials led to the discovery of a Chinese man near the site claiming to be the project director.
After questioning and verifying their visas, work permits, and passports, it was confirmed that the four men were legally employed by a joint venture with Italian-Thai Development. The documents included construction contractor files and engineering reports.
The police have seized these for further inspection. Following questioning, the men were temporarily released.
The local police chief has been in contact with the Bangkok governor’s office to verify whether the men had authorisation to be on the premises. The Chatuchak district office is preparing charges under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act.
If found guilty, the men face up to three months in prison or a fine of up to 6,000 baht (US$180). The public is reminded not to enter the area without permission due to legal restrictions.
The four men claimed they entered the site to retrieve insurance documents from a container in a car park, but they lacked the necessary permission. They are employed by a subcontractor affiliated with Italian-Thai Development.
Police are examining whether the documents are related to the building collapse and will interview all relevant parties.
The metropolitan police commissioner has initiated an investigation into the cause of the collapse, which includes coordinating with insurance companies regarding any documents needed for submission.
Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, also of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, noted ongoing investigations into the cause of death of individuals related to the collapse.
This investigation is separate from the document removal case, but any evidence obtained will be used in both cases, reported KhaoSod.
The police are responsible for determining whether the deaths resulted from negligence or other causes and have already interviewed several involved parties. Documents seized from the Chinese men will be reviewed with the assistance of engineers to determine their relevance to the collapse.
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