Warrants issued for 17 SAO building construction directors and engineers

The Criminal Court has issued warrants for the arrests of 17 directors and engineers of companies involved in the design, supervision and construction of the collapsed State Audit Office building.

According to Metropolitan Police, the suspects are divided into three groups:

· Companies responsible for the design of the building, including Forum Architect Company and Meinhardt (Thailand) Company. There are six suspects in this group, including one director and five structural engineers.

· Those responsible for the supervision of the construction, including PN Synchronize Company, KP Consultant and Management Company and V and Sahai Consultants Company. This group involves five suspects.

· Those responsible for the construction, including Italian-Thai Development Company and China Railway No 10 (Thailand) Company. There are six suspects in this group.

According to the police, the design of the building was allegedly not in compliance with ministerial regulations and not up to standard, with the lift shaft walls not to be located at the centre of the building, allegedly contributing to the building’s collapse when it was shaken by the earthquake.

The quality of the concrete used in the construction the building was allegedly not to be up to the KSC standards and some of the rebar used was also substandard. The signature of an engineer, Somkiat Chusaengsuk, was also allegedly found to be a forgery.

Police have identified the suspects as:

· Suchart Chutipaphakorn

· Pimon Charoenying

· Thira Wattanasap

· Suphon Akaraareesuk

· Chainarong Siangpraiphan

· Apichart Raksa

· Patiwat Sirithai

· Kritpat Plongkratok

· Pongdet Therdpitakwanich

· Praneet Sang-alangkarn

· Somchai Sapyen

· Premchai Kanasuta

· Nitjaporn Charanachit

· Xuan Ling Chang

· Kriangsak Kawwattana

· Anuwat Kansorn

· Thipat Rattanawongsa