Thailand investigates corruption after 30-story building collapse in Bangkok

The building, a joint venture between Italian Thai Development PCL (ITD) and a subsidiary of China Railway Group, has been under construction since 2020. According to Deputy Auditor General Sutthipong Boonnithi, the project is only 30% complete, although the original plan was to complete it in 2026. The Thai government had threatened to cancel the contract in January due to the project's continued delays.

Mana Nimitmongkol, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand, said site inspections had found a severe shortage of workers, slowing down the construction process. "There is a possibility that some items were rushed into the final stages, which could affect the quality of the work," he said.

A building in Bangkok (Chatuchak District) collapsed due to a major earthquake in Myanmar. The building was under construction when it collapsed. (Source: X)
X

Thailand's Industry Minister Akanat Promphan has raised suspicions that substandard steel may have been used in the construction. He led an investigation team that collected samples from the rubble on March 30. "We are concerned that the steel used in this building may not meet safety standards," he said.

Over the past six months, the Thai government has launched a crackdown on substandard steel companies, closing seven factories and seizing assets worth about $10 million.

Mr Akanat said some of these factories used old technology and equipment imported from China, resulting in substandard products. If this type of steel was used to build the tower, this could be one of the reasons why the structure collapsed so easily.

Experts from the Thai Council of Engineers said the building's collapse was likely due to design flaws or the use of substandard materials. "It's strange that no other building has been affected so severely," said expert Anek Siripanichgorn.

He also stressed that even other high-rise buildings under construction in Bangkok did not suffer similar damage, suggesting that there may have been serious violations during the construction process.

The Thai government has launched an investigation into the incident, looking into construction standards, materials used and possible corruption during the construction process. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has demanded that the results of the investigation be released within a week.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, Bangkok Post)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thai-lan-dieu-tra-tham-nhung-sau-vu-sap-toa-nha-30-tang-o-bangkok-post340836.html