Lagatar24 Desk
Bangkok: Thai police detained four Chinese nationals on Sunday for allegedly attempting to remove documents from the site of the collapsed under-construction State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok. The structure came down during the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar last Friday, causing widespread destruction even in Thailand.
According to authorities, the four men entered the restricted area without permission and attempted to retrieve 32 files containing documents. The incident occurred in the Chatuchak District, where the Bangkok Governor had earlier declared the site a disaster zone, restricting all unauthorised access.
Police Major General Nopasin Poolswat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, stated that one of the Chinese nationals was found near the collapse site and claimed to be a project manager for the ongoing construction. Upon further investigation, it was confirmed that he had a valid work permit and was associated with a subcontractor of Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited—the main contractor for the building.
Three more Chinese men were later found, and all were in possession of various paperwork reportedly linked to the construction project. The men told police that the documents were stored in a temporary office container and were required for an insurance claim.
Although they were initially released after questioning, authorities from the Chatuchak District Office later filed a formal complaint, accusing five Chinese nationals, including their employer, of violating the restricted area order. Legal proceedings are now underway against the four individuals, while the fifth person remains under investigation.
Concerns Over Structural Integrity After Collapse
The collapse of the 30-storey high-rise has sparked scrutiny into the construction practices of the joint venture, which includes a Chinese-backed firm. The building, which had been under construction for over three years at a cost of more than 2 billion Thai baht (approximately ₹450 crore), crumbled within seconds during the quake.
As of Sunday, Thai officials confirmed 17 deaths, with 32 people injured and 76 still missing—most of them believed to be construction workers trapped under the debris. Rescue operations continue amid scorching heat, with concerns growing over the structural flaws that led to such a swift and total collapse.
Experts have questioned why other high-rises in Bangkok remained unaffected while this particular building, being developed by the State Audit Office, failed catastrophically. Investigations into the design and materials used are currently ongoing.
