Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that arrest warrants for individuals involved in the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building last month will soon be issued.
She made these comments following a coordination meeting with several governmental bodies in the wake of the 30-storey building’s collapse in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district on March 28 due to an earthquake, which led to numerous injuries and deaths.
Paetongtarn mentioned that the government is set to collaborate with the Comptroller General’s Department, which is responsible for procurement indicators and contract terminations.
She urged the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to join forces with the police and other relevant bodies to probe the incident’s possible culprits.
The Prime Minister highlighted ongoing investigations by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) into the quality of the construction materials and any modifications to the building’s original design that might have caused the disaster.
The DSI is also looking into issues concerning foreign business activities and suspected bid manipulation.
“Please be assured that the government is not turning a blind eye to this matter,” she said.
Paetongtarn voiced her profound distress regarding the fatalities, emphasizing that the loss from a single building’s collapse is intolerable. She compared this to Myanmar, where several buildings were destroyed by an 8.2-magnitude earthquake centered in Mandalay.
She pointed out that it is up to the Royal Thai Police and DSI to determine the causes of the collapse.
“Whether it involves issuing arrest warrants or other actions, we have discussed this with the police, and they have assured us that once sufficient evidence is gathered, arrest warrants will be issued,” she added, noting that this should happen shortly.
In response to queries about why some departments have not been forthcoming with information and documentation, Paetongtarn emphasized the necessity for complete cooperation from all agencies, including the SAO itself, to avoid public mistrust.
The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to act based on the evidence at hand and has directed the police to thoroughly fulfill their responsibilities.
She also advocated for the inspection of major construction projects to avert similar catastrophes in the future.
“Every building must be accountable, as this directly affects the safety of people who live and work there every day. When problems arise, they must be investigated and prosecuted transparently,” she said.
Regarding claims of signature forgery and SAO officials’ involvement, Paetongtarn insisted that the inquiries be grounded in solid evidence and that any legal consequences should be assessed individually.
She concluded by affirming that it is unthinkable for the collapse to have occurred without holding anyone accountable.
