Thailand Issues Warrants in Deadly Skyscraper Collapse

High-profile construction tycoon among those facing charges following the tragic collapse of a Bangkok tower after an earthquake.

A Thai court has issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals, including Premchai Karnasuta, a well-known construction tycoon, in connection with the collapse of a skyscraper in Bangkok. Police confirmed the warrants on Thursday, stating the charges relate to the building's design and construction, following a devastating earthquake in March.

The partially constructed 30-story State Audit Office tower crumbled during tremors caused by a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar. Search and rescue teams recovered 89 bodies from the wreckage after a six-week operation. The charges against the accused include building code violations, potentially leading to a life sentence, according to Police Major General Somkuan Puengsap, deputy Bangkok police chief.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse. The incident is one of the deadliest of its kind in Thailand, with seven people still missing. An anti-corruption watchdog had previously raised concerns about the construction of the building. Industry officials' initial tests suggested the presence of substandard steel at the site.

Those charged include executives and engineers from seven companies involved in the project’s design, construction, and supervision. Authorities have only publicly identified Premchai Karnasuta, formerly the president of Italian Thai Development Pcl ITD.BK, Thailand’s largest construction company. Italian Thai Development has been cooperating with the investigation, holding meetings with investors. Premchai, who could not be reached for comment, was previously convicted and sentenced to more than three years in jail in 2021 for poaching protected species.