Executive arrested for hazardous materials at Phetchabun factory

The Thai authorities swooped to arrest an executive at Win Process, en route to another factory in Phetchabun Province for possessing unauthorised hazardous materials.

The executive, Ophas, faces court charges and is expected to be involved in 14 additional cases. A raid on another site uncovered numerous documents.

Police from the Map Ta Phut Police Station in Rayong Province detained Ophas (surname withheld), a director at the chemical waste storage factory Win Process, located in Moo 4, Bang But Subdistrict, Ban Khai District, Rayong.

The arrest occurred the previous evening while Ophas was travelling to another factory, Ekat Uthai, in Si Thep District, Phetchabun Province. Following his arrest, he was taken to the Map Ta Phut Police Station for custody.

The case follows an arrest warrant issued by the Map Ta Phut Police Station on charges of possessing hazardous materials.

Rayong Governor Traiphop Wongtrairat and industrial officials inspected another factory in Soi Wat Khod Hin, within the jurisdiction of the Map Ta Phut Police Station. They discovered large quantities of chemicals stored in the factory’s warehouse and filed charges for possessing hazardous materials.

Ophas is currently held in a detention cell. Today, officers from the Map Ta Phut Police Station plan to present him in court in Rayong Province. Reports indicate that Ophas may face around 14 additional charges.

Hazardous chemicals

Police Colonel Kulchat Kulchai, Deputy Commander of Rayong Provincial Police, and Police Colonel Panya Damlek, Superintendent of Map Ta Phut Police Station, along with an investigative team, inspected another Win Process factory located in Soi Sut Khod Hin, Noen Phra Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong.

They found a substantial number of documents inside the factory, which police will examine to determine the source of the chemicals involved, aiding in further legal proceedings.

Danainat Chokamnuay, adviser to the Minister of Industry, and his team visited the Win Process factory to monitor the progress of remedial measures. They also distributed 400 relief bags to affected residents.

Danainat stated that the Minister of Industry had directed him to monitor the situation closely, especially concerning the chemical water trap, as the rainy season approaches.

Immediate efforts will be made to strengthen the earthen dike in the short term, with a systematic long-term approach involving relevant parties. The focus will also be on swiftly addressing the aluminium dross issue, reported KhaoSod.

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, Sunthorn Kaewsawang, revealed that the plan prioritises rapid chemical treatment, hindered by financial disputes raised by the defendants. However, he reassured that efforts would be expedited to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.