Chinese executive detained over Bangkok tower collapse fatalities
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has detained a Chinese executive from a construction company involved in the State Audit Office tower project in Bangkok, where numerous fatalities occurred following its collapse during the earthquake on March 28.
Zhang Chuanling was apprehended at a hotel in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok yesterday, April 19, as confirmed by the DSI. He is among four individuals wanted on arrest warrants for acting as nominees for China Railway No.10 (Thailand) Co (CREC).
The other three individuals are Thai nationals: Manas Sri-anan, Prachuap Sirikhet, and Sophon Meechai, according to the DSI. These individuals were identified as executives of the Thai subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned construction company.
This company was part of a joint venture with the Italian-Thai Development Plc, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Together, they formed the ITD-CREC consortium responsible for constructing the 30-storey State Audit Office headquarters in Chatuchak district, Bangkok.
The registered business address of CREC is located in Soi Phutthabucha within the Bang Mod area of Thung Khru district, Bangkok. The DSI’s investigation into the company’s shareholding structure revealed that 51% of shares were held by Thai nationals: Sophon with 40.7997%, Prachuap with 10.2%, and Manas with 0.0003%. Zhang held the remaining 49%.
The DSI reported yesterday that investigators had scrutinised the shareholdings by Thai nominees and interviewed witnesses, gathering sufficient evidence to suspect a violation of the Foreign Business Act of 1999 through the use of nominees. This led to the Criminal Court approving arrest warrants for the four executives of CREC.
Investigators located Zhang at a hotel in the Ratchadaphisek area and escorted him to the DSI headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok for further questioning. A search is currently underway for the three remaining Thai executives, reported Bangkok Post.
Other agencies are also continuing their investigations into various aspects, including the potential use of substandard steel in the building’s construction. At the collapse site in Bangkok, rescue teams are focusing on clearing debris around the lift shaft, where the bodies of approximately 30 missing individuals are anticipated to be found.
Several additional bodies were recovered on April 18, increasing the death toll to 47, with 47 more individuals still missing, as reported by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
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