The investigation uncovers potential violations of business ownership laws and substandard materials used in the doomed structure.
**Collapse of Bangkok Building Sparks Arrests Amid Earthquake Investigation**
**Collapse of Bangkok Building Sparks Arrests Amid Earthquake Investigation**
Authorities arrest a Chinese national linked to a construction firm after Bangkok's deadly building collapse.
In the wake of a devastating earthquake in March, which led to the tragic collapse of a 30-story building in Bangkok, authorities have arrested an executive connected to a Chinese state-owned company involved in the construction. The earthquake, with its epicenter in Myanmar, resulted in 47 confirmed deaths in Thailand, with another 47 individuals presumed dead.
The arrested individual, identified as Zhang, is linked to the China Railway 10th Engineering Group’s subsidiary, China Railway 10th (Thailand). Thai officials issued warrants for four board members, including Zhang, after uncovering evidence suggesting violations of the Foreign Business Act, which limits foreign ownership in domestic companies to 49%. Investigations revealed that the firm allegedly utilized Thai nationals as proxies for foreign owners, raising serious red flags about the legality of their business operations.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is under increasing pressure to ensure accountability for the collapse. She has called for a comprehensive review of all construction projects associated with China Railway 10th, particularly due to claims that the firm attempted to remove critical documentation from the disaster site.
Reports from construction workers indicate that cost-cutting measures by the firm may have led to the use of inferior construction materials, including steel bars from a disreputable local factory. The government has initiated further investigations into potential corruption and construction violations, particularly given the alarming manner of the building's rapid failure during the earthquake.
As the inquiry progresses, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served for the victims and that similar tragedies are prevented in the future.
The arrested individual, identified as Zhang, is linked to the China Railway 10th Engineering Group’s subsidiary, China Railway 10th (Thailand). Thai officials issued warrants for four board members, including Zhang, after uncovering evidence suggesting violations of the Foreign Business Act, which limits foreign ownership in domestic companies to 49%. Investigations revealed that the firm allegedly utilized Thai nationals as proxies for foreign owners, raising serious red flags about the legality of their business operations.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is under increasing pressure to ensure accountability for the collapse. She has called for a comprehensive review of all construction projects associated with China Railway 10th, particularly due to claims that the firm attempted to remove critical documentation from the disaster site.
Reports from construction workers indicate that cost-cutting measures by the firm may have led to the use of inferior construction materials, including steel bars from a disreputable local factory. The government has initiated further investigations into potential corruption and construction violations, particularly given the alarming manner of the building's rapid failure during the earthquake.
As the inquiry progresses, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served for the victims and that similar tragedies are prevented in the future.
