A Chinese executive from the construction company was arrested in connection with the collapse of a 30-story building in Bangkok, caused by last month’s earthquake in Myanmar.
On Sunday, multiple foreign media outlets, including AFP and the Bangkok Post, reported that Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a Chinese executive from the construction company responsible for the collapse of a building near Chatuchak Market during the Myanmar earthquake.
Thai Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong announced that four individuals were issued arrest warrants on charges of violating the Foreign Business Act. This includes one Chinese executive from China Railway No. 10 and three Thai executives. Thai authorities are searching for the Thai executives, while the Chinese executive remains in custody.
China Railway No. 10, a subsidiary of state-owned China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC), and the joint venture ITD-CREC, involving Italian-Thai Development, won the Auditor General’s office building contract in 2020. Construction began later that year.
The main issue is the alleged violation of Thailand’s Foreign Business Act, which limits foreign ownership in local companies to 49%. Official documents show the arrested Chinese executive holding 49% of the shares, with the three Thai executives holding the remaining 51%. However, authorities claim evidence of foreign ownership exceeding the limit through nominee shares.
The building collapse, triggered by the Myanmar earthquake, has resulted in 47 confirmed deaths, with another 47 presumed trapped. Thai authorities are investigating the cause, including whether substandard materials were used in construction.
