March 2025 Bangkok earthquake building collapse, Audit office acknowledges fatal flaws in building
Agency says it’s ready to comply in legal cases arising from collapse
Read more: 7.7 earthquake, Thailand unprepared for disasters
The State Audit Office (SAO) issued an acknowledgement on Friday of the construction and design flaws that led to the collapse of its 30-storey building and the deaths of 95 people after an earthquake on March 28,
The agency said it was ready to comply with the law if any state officials are found to have broken the rules.
The office said a fact-finding committee that it set up up two days after the quake found the collapse began in the lower part of the building, specifically floors 1-4, due to shear forces caused by the temblor acting on the shear walls.
The walls did not meet the required standard, according to the test results on some concrete samples, it said. Moreover, the detailed plans, as well as the embedment length of the reinforcing steel, did not comply with applicable laws.
The nearly-completed tower in Chatuchak district was the only building in Bangkok to collapse from tremors emanating from the powerful 7.7 magnitude quake in neighbouring Myanmar on March 28.
Prosecutors in August indicted 23 suspects including the head of Italian-Thai Development Plc and a Chinese state-owned construction firm for violations that led to the collapse.
They are facing charges relating to the design, supervision and construction of the building in violation of required standards, causing danger to others and resulting in loss of life.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has also pursued an investigation under the Foreign Business Act and has forwarded cases deemed worthy of legal action to prosecutors.
Bid-rigging
DSI investigators have also reviewed a statement submitted by the SAO on allegations of bid-rigging.
As well, the DSI has submitted some cases to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for further investigation.
As many as 70 civil servants could be implicated in bid-rigging, the DSI has said.
The SAO said it had also provided explanations and supporting documents as requested by the Comptroller General’s Department, which is looking into compliance with procurement laws.
“The SAO is willing to cooperate in the investigation and has confidence in the judicial process,” the agency said in the statement.
“We are prepared to strictly adhere to the law if it is found that any government official has committed wrongdoing, in order to ensure a transparent and fair investigation and build public trust.”
The STRONG Anti-Corruption Club said the SAO had still not addressed all questions pertaining to illegal construction.
“The DSI and the NACC have yet to reach a conclusion on who should be held accountable,” it said in a statement.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3164113/audit-office-acknowledges-fatal-flaws-in-building
