Latest news with #SAO
The Star
13-05-2025
- General
- The Star
48-day rescue mission at collapsed Bangkok building concludes
BANGKOK: The 48-day-long rescue mission following the collapse of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok's Chatuchak District officially concluded on Tuesday (May 13). A large-scale Buddhist merit-making and memorial ceremony was held to honor those who lost their lives in the tragedy. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported a total of 109 victims from the incident. Of these, 89 were confirmed dead, nine injured, four unharmed, and seven are still awaiting forensic identification. The collapse occurred on March 28, when the under-construction 2.136-billion-baht building on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road gave way due to a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, with its epicenter located along the Sagaing Fault. The tremors and subsequent aftershocks caused widespread structural damage across multiple provinces, including Bangkok. Over the past 48 days, rescue teams from various agencies worked tirelessly under hazardous conditions to locate and retrieve those trapped beneath the rubble. Their relentless efforts ultimately led to the successful recovery of all victims. At 7am on Tuesday, the BMA, in collaboration with community partners and Buddhist practitioners, held a merit-making ceremony involving 109 monks to dedicate merit to the deceased. The ceremony also served to express deep gratitude to the rescue teams and to offer emotional support to the families affected by the tragedy. - Photo: The Nation/ANN Tuesday marked the official end of the search and rescue operation, after which the site was formally handed over to the relevant authorities. During the closing ceremony, government officials, rescue workers, and attendees observed a moment of silence and laid flowers in a final tribute to the victims. The collapse of the SAO building is considered a major national tragedy that has left a deep impact on many families. It also stands as a critical reminder of the importance of preparedness in the face of natural disasters. - The Nation/ANN
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former Jacksonville pastor Paul Dyal accused of sexual abuse pleads guilty to child abuse
Paul Dyal, a former Jacksonville pastor accused of sexual battery on a child, has pleaded guilty to a count of child abuse. The State Attorney's Office said Dyal, 81, entered the guilty plea late Thursday morning and was sentenced to five years of probation. Action News Jax first told you in March 2022 when Dyal and two other men were arrested in connection with what police called decades of physical and sexual abuse at the Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ Church. Other conditions of Dyal's sentence include a year in jail, which he has already has served, no contact with the victim or her family, and no unsupervised contact with minors, the SAO said. The case was resolved in this manner because the victim did not want to take part in further court proceedings, the SAO said. 'The victim asked the SAO to resolve this case in a manner that would no longer require her participation. In accordance with her wishes, the SAO has reached a negotiated disposition,' according to an SAO memorandum. READ THE MEMORANDUM BELOW: 22CF013202 Dyal, Paul Memo-Dispo by ActionNewsJax on Scribd [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'In the end, I overcame. I have people who love me, a husband who protects me, family and friends who support my heart in ways I never imagined. I've healed so much, and every day I get stronger because of moments like now,' the victim wrote in her impact statement. READ THE FULL IMPACT STATEMENT BELOW: VIS in Dyal, Paul by ActionNewsJax on Scribd The two other suspects in the abuse at the church were tried separately from Dyal. The case of Jerome Teschendorf, 71, is still moving through the court system and has a hearing on a motion scheduled for May 19. Vernon Williamson, 88, was sentenced to life in prison in April 2024. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
The Star
07-05-2025
- The Star
Thai police to press charges against engineers, SAO officials over collapsed Bangkok building
BANGKOK: The Metropolitan Police Bureau is preparing to file multiple charges against engineers and State Audit Office (SAO) officials held responsible for the construction of the SAO building that collapsed on March 28, according to a well-informed source. A source from the police investigative team stated that these charges are distinct from the cases being investigated by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which focus on alleged bidding collusion, the use of Thai nominees by a Chinese contractor, and a tax evasion case against a Chinese steel manufacturer. Police investigators have questioned more than 100 witnesses, including SAO officials, family members of deceased and injured workers, and representatives of companies involved in the construction. The source noted that the investigation is over 80% complete, and police have collected all necessary evidence, including samples of steel bars, cement slabs, poles, and other materials from the site. The evidence has been sent to forensic police and technical experts for analysis. According to the source, more than five individuals are expected to face charges. The suspects will be grouped into two categories: engineers and SAO officials. The engineers will be charged with failing to adhere to safety regulations, despite being certified and responsible for the project—violating Articles 227 and 238 of the Criminal Code, which relate to negligence causing death and injury. The SAO officials will be charged with malfeasance or nonfeasance in office, which covers the failure to carry out their official duties or acting inappropriately while in office. DSI spokesperson, Pol Maj Woranun Srilam, said on Tuesday that the lead investigator briefed the DSI director-general on the latest progress. The DSI is overseeing three key cases related to the building collapse: 1. Use of Thai nominees by Chinese contractor The investigation involves China Railway No.10 (CREC) (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which allegedly used Thai nominees. The DSI is awaiting written statements from four suspects before submitting the final report to public prosecutors. 2. Alleged Bidding Collusion Woranun stated that the SAO only conducted bidding for the construction work, but appointed an engineering firm to supervise the project without holding a bidding process. The DSI is collecting additional evidence on this matter. Some engineers listed as supervisors have claimed their signatures were forged, and the DSI is working with forensic police to verify these claims. 3. Tax Evasion by Steel Manufacturer Xin Ke Yuan Steel, whose steel bars were used in the SAO project, has denied the tax evasion charges and submitted a tax receipt in defence. The DSI is verifying the receipt with the Department of Business Development. - The Nation/ANN
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
State Attorney's Office welcomes student applications for annual Youth Mock Trial program
The State Attorney's Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit is accepting applications for its annual Youth Mock Trial. The four-day program will take place June 23 through June 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow. This program gives students going in to the 11th and 12th grades an opportunity to work with prosecutors from the State Attorney's Office and learn how a criminal case makes its way through the justice system, the SAO said in a news release. Students will attend court hearings and study current cases to see how the law is applied. To apply, visit and fill out an application, which should be submitted to communications10@ Applications may also be mailed to the Polk County Courthouse. The deadline to apply is June 10. Spaces are limited. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Students may apply to SAO's annual Youth Mock Trial program
CNA
30-04-2025
- Business
- CNA
Thai officials urge speedier investigation of quake-hit Bangkok tower's collapse
BANGKOK: A month after an unfinished 30-storey skyscraper toppled following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar, investigations into the cause of the collapse are still ongoing. The building, which was supposed to house the new headquarters of Thailand's State Audit Office (SAO) in the north of Bangkok, crumbled in seconds on March 28, burying 103 workers on site. Thai officials have been working round the clock for the past month, using heavy machinery to dig into the mountain of rubble. At least 63 bodies have been found and the rest are unaccounted for, feared still buried under the debris. The disaster zone has also become a crime scene as officials investigate why the high-rise was the only building in Bangkok to have collapsed. Local authorities who have finished examining other buildings in the capital found that while there were damages such as cracks to several structures, the SAO tower remains the only one that could not withstand the earthquake. Investigation efforts are focusing on the rubble for materials involved in constructing the collapsed structure, including tens of thousands of tons of concrete and steel rods. QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS One firm under scrutiny is Xin Ke Yuan Steel, which manufactured the building's steel bars. Initial tests by the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand found that the company's steel samples failed to meet safety standards, said local media. In addition, its factory in Rayong was ordered shut in December 2024 for safety violations related to a separate incident. The steel bars from the collapsed site are currently undergoing further testing, said authorities. The building's elevator shafts are another area of concern. Government-appointed investigators believe the walls were constructed thinner than initially planned, according to local media. Thai authorities suggested that may have weakened the structural integrity of the building, contributing to factors leading it to give way during the earthquake. CONSTRUCTION FIRM HAD PRIOR ISSUES The tower was a joint-venture between Italian-Thai Development – a long-standing Thai construction company – and China Railway No. 10, a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned China Railway, a group behind many large-scale infrastructure projects in China and abroad. China Railway No. 10's organisational structure had three Thai nationals holding a majority of the company's shares while a Chinese executive held the remaining 49 per cent. Thai laws require Thai nationals to hold a majority of shares for a company to avoid being classified as a foreign company. Law enforcement officials have arrested the three Thai nationals and the Chinese man, who they named as Zhang Chuangling. He was charged on suspicions of using Thai nationals as shareholders in name only. Zhang is currently out on bail, but not the other three, according to local media. A Thai anti-corruption watchdog which had previously monitored the collapsed building project said it had observed several problems. The group described various issues, including a constant lack of supervising engineers and multiple delays, as well as running behind schedule on its progress. 'In January 2025, we confirmed once again that if conditions remained the same, it would be impossible to rush for completion by August,' said Mana Nimitmongkol, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand. 'And if they managed to do it, it would have meant severely cutting corners in the construction process. It might not meet engineering standards.' The anti-corruption watchdog had earlier flagged irregularities in the tower's construction to authorities after building works had already begun. Mana added the SAO management considered terminating the construction contract and blacklist the contractors from future government work but decided to continue. The government set up a fact-finding committee a week after the incident to investigate what caused the building to collapse. They are expected to reveal their findings in about two months from the convening of the committee. NEED FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY Thai legislator Surachet Pravinvongvuth, who is chairing a parliamentary committee on how state funds are used, said it is ironic that SAO - which examines government finances and accounts - is being evasive about being audited. Surachet, who wants the government's fact-finding group to bring in clarity, said the public should demand concrete details about what they will deliver in these 90 days. 'Beyond this issue, there is also the matter of public responsibility. Because this agency is an independent organisation that is different from regular state agencies, we do not really see much connection with the public or readiness to explain things to society,' he said. Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on April 18 criticised the slow progress of the investigation. She also called out the SAO for not coming forward enough to assist in the probe. 'We ask for cooperation (from the relevant parties)... the SAO's documents including the committee's findings from January 2025 of possible contractual violations but non-cancellation of the project,' she said. 'We must find all evidence and cause to hold those responsible for the loss of lives.'
