Violations of regulations, forged signatures, 92 deaths: prominent construction figures among the accused

** Thai police have issued arrest warrants for 17 people in connection with the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok**

Thai police have issued arrest warrants for 17 people in connection with the collapse of the State Control Office (SCO) building in Bangkok on 28 March 2025. The suspects include prominent figures, including Premchai Karnasuta, chairman of Italian-Thai Development PCL, engineers, project managers, and representatives of the joint venture China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Charges have been filed against both individuals and corporate entities for failing to comply with construction regulations, causing loss of life. The announcement of the arrests was made on 15 May, the same day that the Bangkok administration officially announced the end of the search and rescue operation and the removal of disaster zone status from the area where the collapse occurred.

The investigation revealed numerous violations of building codes. The design of the building did not comply with ministerial regulations and standards. The location of the lift shaft at the rear edge of the building, rather than in the center, resulted in a shift in the center of torsion.

During the earthquake, this displacement caused the lift shaft and supporting columns to collapse simultaneously, resulting in the rapid collapse of the entire structure. Analysis of cement samples showed that the strength of the concrete did not meet the required KSC standards. In addition, some of the steel reinforcing bars did not meet the design specifications.

Forensic analysis confirmed the forged signature of Somkiat Chusangsri, a professional engineer whose name appeared in the documents. A handwriting forensic examination found that the signature on the construction documents differed significantly from Somkiat’s original signature.

The investigation team, led by Police Majors-General Somkuan Phuengsap and Noppasin Pulsawat, divided the suspects into three groups.

The first group included design companies Forum Architect Co., Ltd. and Mainhart (Thailand), which contracted with the State Audit Office, as well as one authorized representative and five civil engineers who signed the drawings. A total of six suspects are charged in this group.

The second group includes the companies that supervised the construction: the PKW joint venture, which includes PN Synchronize Co., Ltd, KP Consultants and Management Co., Ltd, and W. and Associates Consultants Co., Ltd. Five people from these companies are also charged.

The third group included construction contractors Italian-Thai Development PCL and China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd. as well as representatives of the ITD-CREC joint venture. Charges have been filed against six individuals.

Among the 17 suspects with arrest warrants are Suchat Chutipapakorn, 64, director of Forum Architect Co., Ltd, Premchai Karnasuta, 71, chairman of Italian-Thai Development, and engineer Pimol Charoenying, 85. Although Charoenying has previously stated in interviews that he was not involved in the design work, his signature is on the construction plans for the collapsed State Control Office building.

The State Control Office building was the only structure in Bangkok to collapse due to tremors from the Myanmar earthquake on 28 March. According to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital, the death toll stands at 92, with four missing and nine injured. The incident has caused widespread public outcry and drawn attention to construction safety issues in Thailand.

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