Thailand arrests Chinese executive in Bangkok building collapse case

Thai authorities have arrested the Chinese executive of the firm responsible for constructing the high-rise building that collapsed in Bangkok during a deadly earthquake last month. The quake that struck Myanmar on March 28 resulted in the collapse, killing dozens of workers. The under-construction 33-storey high-rise building, which was part of a project for Thailand’s State Audit Office (SAO), was a joint venture between a major Thai construction firm and a Chinese state-owned company’s local subsidiary.

Following the collapse, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident.

Bangkok Post reported that a team of seasoned engineers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, along with trustworthy specialists, were assembled to conduct the inquiry.

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“Thailand will quickly find out why the building collapsed. It was just built and should have been designed to withstand earthquakes,” the interior minister said, adding, “The earthquake caused a seismic magnitude of 7.8 but more than 95 per cent of buildings withstood it. Collapse happened only to the State Audit building. This building was newly constructed. So, it should have endured an earthquake."

Why Chinese executive has been arrested?

According to Thai Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, the Chinese executive’s arrest was ordered by a court for breaching the Foreign Business Act.

The Chinese national has been identified as Zhang Chuanling, and he was arrested along with three Thai nationals.

Zhang is listed as a 49 per cent shareholder in the firm which partnered with the Thai firm to construct the building.

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According to Tawee, the three Thai nationals were held for holding shares for other foreign independents.

“We have evidence… that the three Thais were holding shares for other foreign independents,” the justice minister said.

According to the Foreign Business Act, foreigners are barred from holding more than 49 per cent stakes in a company.

Tawee added that several other investigations related to the collapse of the building were still going on. There is a possibility that bid rigging and forging of engineers’ signature may also have been done.