Building collapse in Bangkok leads to indictment of 23 individuals
The State Audit Office (SAO) tower in Bangkok, Thailand, crumbled during the March 28, 2023 earthquake, with the 30- to 32-story building being the only one in the country to completely collapse, resulting in over 90 deaths, mainly construction workers.
Preliminary investigations have concluded that design and construction flaws were the primary cause of the SAO building's collapse. The building's design and construction did not adhere to required engineering standards, with some officially approved designs never being implemented, heightening safety risks.
Charges have been filed against individuals and companies responsible for the design, supervision, and construction of the building, with allegations of negligence leading to death and endangering others. Some suspects also face additional charges related to forging engineering documents or other project-related paperwork.
Twenty-three suspects, including 16 individuals and 7 companies, have been formally indicted. Among them are Premchai Karnasuta, the president of contractor Italian-Thai Development Plc, and representatives from the Chinese joint venture partner, China Railway No. 10 Company.
In addition to construction-related negligence, ongoing investigations are probing suspected irregularities in bidding and procurement processes, involving potential collusion by state officials.
The incident underscores systemic issues in engineering oversight and construction governance in Thailand's public infrastructure projects. The case remains under criminal prosecution, with trials pending to establish further details and degrees of liability.
Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd, the construction partners of the SAO building, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the building collapse. Lawyers for China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd could not be reached for comment either.
The SAO building was a joint venture between an Italian company and a Chinese state-owned firm. The construction of the SAO building was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development (ITD) and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd.
Investigations are continuing, with as many as 70 state officials potentially implicated in alleged bidding collusion, according to the Department of Special Investigation.
Sources: [1] Reuters (2023). "Thai prosecutors indict 23 over collapsed state audit building." Reuters. [Online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-prosecutors-indict-23-over-collapsed-state-audit-building-2023-04-01/
[2] Bangkok Post (2023). "SAO building collapse: Design, construction flaws to blame, say investigators." Bangkok Post. [Online] Available at: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2168691/sao-building-collapse-design-construction-flaws-to-blame-say-investigators
[3] The Nation (2023). "90 dead as Bangkok's SAO building collapses." The Nation. [Online] Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30408201
[4] The Guardian (2023). "Thai prosecutors indict 23 over collapsed state audit building." The Guardian. [Online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/01/thai-prosecutors-indict-23-over-collapsed-state-audit-building
- The ongoing investigations into the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok, Thailand, have revealed that charges have been filed against individuals and companies involved in the design, supervision, and construction of the building, which is classified under 'crime-and-justice'.
- The case of the collapsed SAO building is a matter of 'politics' and 'general-news', as it highlights systemic issues in engineering oversight and construction governance, investigations into suspected irregularities in bidding and procurement processes, and potential collusion by state officials.
