Latest news with #Noppasin
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
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.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Thai construction tycoon and 14 others surrender to police over fatal Bangkok tower collapse
BANGKOK: A Thai construction tycoon and 14 others surrendered to police on Friday over a building collapse that killed nearly a hundred workers during a powerful earthquake in March, authorities said. The partially built 30-storey State Audit Office tower in Bangkok was the only building to collapse from tremors emanating from the powerful 7.7 magnitude quake in neighbouring Myanmar. Rescue teams have recovered 92 bodies during a six week operation from the collapsed site. Four were still missing. Premchai Karnasuta, president of Italian Thai Development , one of Thailand's largest construction companies, and the 14 other suspects were affiliated with companies responsible for building design and construction, said Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Noppasin Poonsawat. They have been accused of negligence and breaching construction regulations. "Expert assessments revealed that the architectural design did not comply with ministerial regulations or meet the technical standards outlined in the terms of reference," Noppasin said. There were also irregularities in construction materials used, including substandard concrete and steel, he said, adding that investigators also discovered forged signatures in engineering documents. A watchdog organisation flagged days after the quake that corruption may have been involved in the building's construction. Initial tests of materials gathered at the site in March indicated the presence of substandard steel among the wreckage structure, according to industry ministry officials. The 15 suspects have been brought to court for pre-trial proceedings and have denied all charges, Noppasin said, while two additional suspects would report to authorities on Monday. An investigation was still underway over the causes of the collapse, one of the country's deadliest. Italian Thai Development has said it is cooperating with authorities. Premchai was convicted and sentenced to more than three years in jail in 2021 for poaching protected species after he was caught by rangers at a jungle campsite in a wildlife sanctuary with carcasses of protected animals, including a black Indochinese leopard.
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.
