Investigators now scrutinizing walls of lift shaft in the collapsed Bangkok structure.
A Fresh Spin
The recent debacle involving the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building has put a spotlight on some crucial structural flaws and international partnerships. Here's the lowdown:
- Thin Walls, Thick Trouble: It seems the elevator shaft walls in the SAO building were a bit on the lean side, measuring a paltry 25cm, compared to the standard 60cm. This reduction in thickness might have weakened the structure, playing a part in the building's catastrophic collapse[5].
- Design Revisions and Forged Signatures: The blueprints for this project have gone through a beat-the-drum NINE revisions. Investigators are taking a close look at these changes, including some that have raised eyebrows due to alleged forgeries of engineers' signatures, like Somkiat Chusangsuk[2][4].
- The Great Wall of (Sub)Contractors: The organization responsible for the project, China Railway No.10 (Thailand), is a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned company. Despite this, Thai proxies were apparently used to evade foreign business ownership laws[4].
- China Steps In: In an unexpected twist, Chinese authorities are lending a hand in the investigation. They've dispatched experts to carry out simulations, analyze soil samples, and assist with compensation for victims[5].
- Money Matters: Over 2 billion baht in loans have been linked to Chinese executives, fueling speculation of underhanded bidding practices[4].
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is speeding ahead with investigations into nominee arrangements, material standards, and potential bid rigging, with results expected within a month's time[1][4]. Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co, which supplied steel for the SAO building project, plans to challenge the revocation of its investment promotion privileges over concerns regarding substandard steel and safety issues[3]. Stay tuned for more updates!
- The thin walls of the SAO building, measured at 25cm thick instead of the standard 60cm, may have been a significant contributor to the building's collapse, raising questions about material standards as stakeholders await the Department of Special Investigation's investigation results within a month's time.
- The Chinese authorities have extended their assistance in the investigation, dispatching experts to analyze soil samples and simulate scenarios, amidst allegations of forged signatures by engineers like Somkiat Chusangsuk and concerns over the use of nominee arrangements and potential bid rigging.
- Amidst the scrutiny, Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co, a supplier of steel for the SAO building project, plans to challenge the revocation of its investment promotion privileges, as concerns regarding substandard steel and safety issues have surfaced, further intertwining sports of international partnerships with this ongoing crisis.
