Police have charged the owner of Na Ladprao beer hall with six offences following last month’s devastating fire, which killed 37 people and left 77 others injured.
Metropolitan Police Division 2 commander Pol Maj Gen Kiatikul Sonthinen said investigators had concluded their inquiry after compiling a seven-volume case file based on interviews with 211 witnesses. Those questioned included venue employees, customers, victims’ relatives, technical experts and forensic personnel.
Investigators identified the venue’s 45-year-old owner, Suwicha Salaibat, as responsible for the incident and have now submitted the case to prosecutors for further consideration.
Suwicha faces charges both in his personal capacity and as a representative of the company operating the venue. The offences include reckless arson resulting in death, negligence causing death, negligence resulting in serious injury, negligence causing physical and psychological harm, and causing property damage.
He has also been charged with operating an entertainment venue without the required licence.
Police said the fire originated from an electrical short circuit after alterations were made to the venue’s electrical system. Sparks reportedly ignited soundproofing materials, allowing flames to spread rapidly throughout the building.
Investigators also found that the venue’s design and the way it was arranged created major obstacles for people trying to escape. Tables restricted movement, while doors intended to serve as emergency exits were either blocked, locked or did not meet statutory safety requirements.
According to Pol Maj Gen Kiatikul, statements from both employees and customers indicated that the operator had failed to implement safety measures that should reasonably have been in place at an entertainment venue.
Suwicha has not yet been interviewed by police because he remains in intensive care at Paolo Kaset Hospital. Investigators also questioned four of his business partners but said they found no evidence connecting them to the management of the venue.
The fire on July 12 claimed 37 lives, including people who succumbed to their injuries after being taken to hospital. Another 77 people suffered burn injuries in the incident.
Authorities in Bangkok have meanwhile intensified inspections of entertainment venues following the tragedy.
Between July 19 and Aug 4, teams from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration inspected 948 establishments across the capital. Of those, 209 were found to comply with safety requirements, while 632 were ordered to address deficiencies and 107 were instructed to suspend operations.
The inspections assess 17 areas of safety, covering fire prevention, hygiene and building conditions.
Bangkok deputy governor Pornphrom Vikitsreth said businesses would be allowed to correct non-critical problems, but operators found to have committed serious safety violations would face legal action.
The inspections are part of a wider effort to strengthen fire safety and emergency preparedness at entertainment venues following the deadly Na Ladprao blaze.
