Additional corpses extracted from debris
In the heart of Bangkok, the investigation into the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building remains a priority. The latest update shows five additional bodies being discovered, bringing the confirmed death toll to 73, with 26 folks still unaccounted for.
Suriyachai Rawiwan, overseeing the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported the findings diligently scoured between 10 pm on Wednesday and 9 am on Thursday in Zone D. Efforts continue tirelessly to locate missing bodies, though occasional hiccups occur due to machinery malfunctions or the need for repairs.
The focus shifts to clearing debris in zones B and C, as teams aim to access suspected areas where staff may still be trapped. The diligent search proceeds round the clock.
Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has requested public works authorities and representatives from the SAO and contractors to witness the examination of documents seized from the site. This examination, led by Pol Lt Col Amorn Hongsrithong, involves document sorting, with 121 document boxes acting as prize pillars of evidence. These boxes were discovered from 26 containers at the construction site.
Within these archives, contracts, blueprints, financial records, construction materials, purchase orders, and the work records of both Chinese and Thai engineers hide secrets that could explain the disaster's cause. Notably absent during the previous search were these documents, which have now surfaced at the construction site.
Out of 40 summoned engineers, nine have confirmed their appointments for questioning. The DSI is evidently probing the alleged use of nominees in the company that won the contract. Complicating matters is the alleged forging of signatures, an aspect the DSI is currently examining.
In a further effort to rebuild public trust, an investigation committee headed by Atavit Suwanpakdee has been established to review potential use of substandard materials during construction. This committee aims to shed light on the sector's questionable practices, ensuring better quality standards moving forward.
On the legal front, the State Audit Office has vowed to pursue both criminal and civil charges if wrongdoing is uncovered, emphasizing its commitment to justice for the victims and their families. The internal investigation committee, established by the office, shall review its staff's role in the collapse, shouldering responsibility for accountability.
As the investigation unfolds, the hope lies in understanding the complex chain of events that led to this disaster, bringing justice to those involved and upholding the integrity of Thailand's construction sector.
On Thursday, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office continued its search in Zone D, hoping to find the missing 26 individuals. Ongoing investigations have revealed that 121 document boxes, containing contracts, blueprints, and financial records, were discovered from the construction site, which could provide insights into the cause of the building's collapse. Simultaneously, the Department of Special Investigation is probing the alleged misuse of nominees and forged signatures in the contracting company. In response, the State Audit Office has formed an internal investigation committee to review its staff's involvement in the disaster and has promised to pursue both criminal and civil charges if wrongdoing is uncovered. General-news and crime-and-justice outlets have been closely following the developments, with added updates on the ongoing audit and the administrative action taken.
