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The Star
17-05-2025
- The Star
17 charged in fatal tower collapse
Facing the law: Premchai arriving on a wheelchair at Bang Sue Police Station in Bangkok. — AP A construction magnate, builders, designers and engineers surrendered to police on criminal negligence charges for the deadly collapse of a Bangkok high-rise in the March 28 earthquake that hit Myanmar. Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, as well as designers and engineers were among 17 charged with the felony of professional negligence causing death, Bangkok deputy police chief Noppasin Poonsawat said. Noppasin said those who met police yesterday formally denied the charges. Several have previously issued public denials in response to allegations in the media. Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction and a small number of other people remain unaccounted for. The building, which was to become a new State Audit Office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centred in neighbouring Myanmar. The search for victims at the site has been halted, though efforts to identify remains through DNA will continue. Noppasin said at a news conference that evidence and testimony from experts suggested the building plan did not meet standards and codes. The Bangkok Post newspaper said police had also determined the project showed 'structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel'. Thai media have reported allegations of wrongdoing in the project almost every day since the building's collapse, many of them involving irregular documentation for the project. A Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 on the negligence charge on Thursday. Noppasin said 15 turned themselves in at a police station in the morning and the remaining two were expected to do so later. The epicentre of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city, and the capital Naypyidaw. Premchai's case is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of wildlife poaching and served about three years in prison. He was found guilty of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons after park rangers found a hunting party at a wildlife sanctuary in 2018 with carcasses of a rare black panther, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer. The panther had been butchered and its meat cooked for soup. — AP
Toronto Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Thai construction magnate facing charge over Bangkok tower collapse surrenders to police
Published May 16, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 2 minute read Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co arrives on a wheelchair at Bang Sue Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 16, 2025 to surrender to police on criminal negligence charges for the collapse of a Bangkok high-rise during a March 28 earthquake. Photo by Sakchai Lalit / AP BANGKOK (AP) — A construction magnate, builders, designers and engineers surrendered to police Friday on criminal negligence charges over the collapse during the March 28 earthquake of a Bangkok high-rise in which 92 people died. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, as well as designers and engineers, was among 17 charged with the felony of professional negligence causing death, Bangkok deputy police chief Noppasin Poonsawat said. Noppasin said those who met police on Friday formally denied the charges. Several have previously issued public denials in response to allegations in the media. Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction. A small number of other people remain unaccounted for. The building, which was to become a new State Audit Office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centred in neighbouring Myanmar. The search for victims at the site has been halted, though efforts to identify remains through DNA will continue. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Noppasin said at a news conference that evidence and testimony from experts suggested the building plan did not meet standards and codes. The Bangkok Post newspaper said police had also determined the project showed 'structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel.' Thai media have reported allegations of wrongdoing in the project almost every day since the building's collapse, many of them involving irregular documentation for the project. Their reports have highlighted the role of Italian-Thai's Chinese joint venture partner, the China Railway No. 10 company, which is involved in projects around the world. One of the 17 charged Friday was Chinese executive Zhang Chuanling, a director at China Railway No. 10's joint venture with Italian-Thai Development. He was previously arrested last month on a charge of violating Thai business law by wrongly using Thai nominees to serve as the Chinese firm's proxies to allegedly control the joint venture. Three Thai executives were also arrested on the charge. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 on the negligence charge on Thursday. Noppasin said 15 turned themselves in at a police station in the morning and the remaining two were expected to do so later. All 15 were driven in police vehicles to the Bangkok Criminal Court, which approved a police detention request and denied the suspects' bail applications, local media reported. The epicentre of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city, and the capital, Naypyitaw. Premchai's case is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of wildlife poaching and served about three years in prison. He was found guilty of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons after park rangers found a hunting party at a wildlife sanctuary in 2018 with carcasses of a rare black panther, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer. The panther had been butchered and its meat cooked for soup. Celebrity Ontario Toronto Maple Leafs Celebrity Toronto Maple Leafs
Euronews
16-05-2025
- Euronews
Thai tycoon and engineers charged in fatal Bangkok building collapse
A prominent Thai construction executive, along with engineers, designers and builders, surrendered to police on Friday to face criminal negligence charges linked to the fatal collapse of a high-rise in Bangkok caused by the 28 March earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar. Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co, was among 17 individuals charged with 'professional negligence causing death,' Bangkok Deputy Police Chief Noppasin Poonsawat announced at a press briefing. Noppasin confirmed that those who reported to the authorities on Friday formally denied the charges. Many of the accused had previously issued public denials following mounting scrutiny in Thai media. The collapse of the under-construction State Audit Office claimed 92 lives and left several individuals still unaccounted for. It was the only building in Thailand to collapse during the quake, which devastated parts of Myanmar and killed over 3,700 people. While rescue operations have concluded, DNA efforts to identify the remains will continue. Noppasin stated that expert analysis and evidence suggest the construction did not meet building codes or structural standards. According to the Bangkok Post, investigations revealed 'structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel.' Thai media have reported almost daily on alleged irregularities in the project, including dubious documentation and procedural lapses. Much attention has focused on Italian-Thai Development's joint venture with China Railway No 10, a Chinese firm involved in global infrastructure projects. Among those charged is Zhang Chuanling, a Chinese executive and director of the joint venture. Zhang was arrested last month on separate allegations of violating Thai business law by allegedly using Thai proxies to unlawfully control the venture. Three Thai nationals were also detained in relation to that charge. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 individuals on Thursday. Noppasin confirmed that 15 turned themselves in on Friday morning, with the remaining two expected to follow later in the day. This is not Premchai's first brush with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of poaching protected wildlife and served nearly three years in prison. He was found guilty after rangers discovered his party in a wildlife sanctuary with the carcasses of several rare animals, including a black panther whose meat had been cooked. The earthquake devastated large areas of central Myanmar, causing major damage in Mandalay and the capital Naypyitaw.
Powys County Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Thai construction magnate surrenders to police over building collapse in quake
A construction magnate, builders, designers and engineers have surrendered to police on criminal negligence charges for the deadly collapse of a Bangkok high-rise in the March 28 earthquake that hit Myanmar. Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, as well as designers and engineers were among 17 charged with professional negligence causing death, Bangkok deputy police chief Noppasin Poonsawat said. Mr Noppasin said those who met police on Friday formally denied the charges. Several have previously issued public denials in response to allegations in the media. Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction and a small number of other people remain unaccounted for. The building, which was to become a new state audit office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centred in neighbouring Myanmar. The search for victims at the site has been halted, though efforts to identify remains through DNA will continue. Mr Noppasin said at a news conference that evidence and testimony from experts suggested the building plan did not meet standards and codes. The Bangkok Post newspaper said police had also determined the project showed 'structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel'. Thai media have reported allegations of wrongdoing in the project almost every day since the building's collapse, many of them involving irregular documentation for the project. Their reports have highlighted the role of Italian-Thai's Chinese joint venture partner, the China Railway No 10 company, which is involved in projects around the world. One of the 17 charged on Friday was Chinese executive Zhang Chuanling, a director at China Railway No 10's joint venture with Italian-Thai Development. He was previously arrested last month on a charge of violating Thai business law by wrongly using Thai nominees to serve as the Chinese firm's proxies to allegedly control the joint venture. Three Thai executives were also arrested on the charge. A Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 on the negligence charge on Thursday. Mr Noppasin said 15 turned themselves in at a police station in the morning and the remaining two were expected to do so later on Friday. The epicentre of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city, and the capital Naypyitaw. Premchai's case is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of wildlife poaching and served about three years in prison. He was found guilty of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons after park rangers found a hunting party at a wildlife sanctuary in 2018 with carcasses of a rare black panther, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer.
North Wales Chronicle
16-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Thai construction magnate surrenders to police over building collapse in quake
Premchai Karnasuta, the president of Italian-Thai Development Co, the main Thai contractor for the building project, as well as designers and engineers were among 17 charged with professional negligence causing death, Bangkok deputy police chief Noppasin Poonsawat said. Mr Noppasin said those who met police on Friday formally denied the charges. Several have previously issued public denials in response to allegations in the media. Ninety-two people were confirmed dead in the rubble of the building that had been under construction and a small number of other people remain unaccounted for. The building, which was to become a new state audit office, was the only one in Thailand to collapse in the earthquake that was centred in neighbouring Myanmar. The search for victims at the site has been halted, though efforts to identify remains through DNA will continue. Mr Noppasin said at a news conference that evidence and testimony from experts suggested the building plan did not meet standards and codes. The Bangkok Post newspaper said police had also determined the project showed 'structural flaws in the core lift shaft and substandard concrete and steel'. Thai media have reported allegations of wrongdoing in the project almost every day since the building's collapse, many of them involving irregular documentation for the project. Their reports have highlighted the role of Italian-Thai's Chinese joint venture partner, the China Railway No 10 company, which is involved in projects around the world. One of the 17 charged on Friday was Chinese executive Zhang Chuanling, a director at China Railway No 10's joint venture with Italian-Thai Development. He was previously arrested last month on a charge of violating Thai business law by wrongly using Thai nominees to serve as the Chinese firm's proxies to allegedly control the joint venture. Three Thai executives were also arrested on the charge. A Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the 17 on the negligence charge on Thursday. Mr Noppasin said 15 turned themselves in at a police station in the morning and the remaining two were expected to do so later on Friday. The epicentre of the quake was in central Myanmar, where it killed more than 3,700 people and caused major damage in Mandalay, the country's second biggest city, and the capital Naypyitaw. Premchai's case is his second major tangle with the law. In 2019, he was convicted of wildlife poaching and served about three years in prison. He was found guilty of killing protected animals and illegal possession of weapons after park rangers found a hunting party at a wildlife sanctuary in 2018 with carcasses of a rare black panther, a kalij pheasant and a barking deer. The panther had been butchered and its meat cooked for soup.
