Bangkok
Reuters
–
Thai prosecutors on Thursday charged 23 suspects, including construction troops and Chinese state-owned companies, for violations that led to the collapse of the building during a powerful earthquake, killing nearly 100 workers.
The 30-storey state audit office tower, partially built in Bangkok, was the only building to collapse from the tremor emanating from the powerful 7.7 magnitude tremors of neighbouring Myanmar on March 28th. At least 95 people were killed in the incident.
The construction of the provincial audit office building was a joint venture between the developments of Italy and Thailand, one of Thailand’s largest construction companies, and China Railway 10 shares (Thailand), a local unit of the China Railway Group, owned by China Railway Group.
Italian Thai president and executive of China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Premchai Karnasta has been formally charged with 21 other suspects who violated construction regulations and caused deaths through negligence, said Sakkasem Nisaiyok, a spokesman for the Attorney General.
Other suspects have also been charged with forging engineering documents, the statement said.
The Italian and Thai developments did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Attorneys for other parties involved in the case, including China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd., could not be reached for comment.
Premchai denied all charges against 14 other people when police were arrested in May over the collapse of the building.
