The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has uncovered a shocking case of forgery, with 30 engineer signatures found to be fake on documents related to the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building. This discovery emerged during a deep dive into alleged nominee practices by China Railway No.10 (Thailand), one of the contractors embroiled in the scandal.
In a crucial meeting yesterday, the DSI took stock of the ongoing investigation into the nominee case, which centers around China Railway No.10 (Thailand) and its involvement in the disastrous collapse of the SAO building. The findings are staggering: 30 individuals initially claimed that their signatures were forged as construction supervisors, but upon closer inspection, only eight signatures were authenticated.
With this wave of revelations, DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam is swiftly moving to outline a strategy for transferring the case over to prosecutors. This plan is being meticulously timed to coincide with the detention period of the first batch of suspects, a group that includes three Thai nominees alongside Zhang Chuanling, a key Chinese shareholder in the company.
Central to the case are testimonies from engineers whose identities have allegedly been co-opted, as well as concrete evidence from the construction site itself. The DSI is delving into violations of the Act Concerning Offences Relating to the Submission of Bids to Government Agencies BE 2542, particularly focusing on the dynamics of project bidding and the influential role of the PKW joint venture in ensuring construction oversight.
Expert insights are also being sought, with structural engineering aficionados weighing in. Among them, Wira Ruangsri, manager of 3117 BIM Management, has presented a compelling analysis. Referring to footage from the fateful day of March 28, when the building collapsed, Mr. Wira highlighted potential flaws in the building’s foundational elements, scrutinizing the lift shaft walls and design alterations as possible culprits.
Mr. Wira ominously pointed out the failure of two critical structural columns as likely contributors to the building’s devastating collapse, a finding that adds a harrowing layer to the story.
Meanwhile, Bangkok’s governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, is actively monitoring the aftermath. He offered an update on the relentless search for victims amid the rubble, sharing that rescue teams have now reached the SC2 staircase in Zone C of the basement. The grim silver lining was that, fortunately, no signs of trapped victims were detected. However, the search is set to expand to the ST1 staircase in Zone B, with operations expected to conclude within four days.
The official death toll stands solemnly at 86, with nine individuals injured and 14 still unaccounted for, while human remains continue to undergo meticulous DNA analysis for definitive identification.
Authorities are also crunching the numbers to evaluate the economic repercussions and potential compensation calculations for affected businesses and individuals in the area.
This level of corruption is astounding, but sadly not surprising in large-scale construction projects.
I agree, Alan! There’s always been whispers about corruption in infrastructure projects, but this is next level deceit!
It makes me wonder how many other buildings might have the same level of fraud that we’re not even aware of right now.
Man, that’s so scary. Imagine working in one of those buildings, never knowing if it’s going to collapse on you!
That’s the terrifying reality. It could be because of greedy companies cutting corners for profit.
Right? It’s like we’re putting our lives in the hands of people who don’t care about safety. Scary stuff!
I’m intrigued by Mr. Wira’s analysis. Structural integrity failure is a serious issue, and it’s not just limited to foundational flaws.
Emily, I think you’re onto something. The engineering world needs to take a harder look at oversight failures.
Absolutely, Frank. The implications are massive and affect public trust in both governments and businesses.
Industry corruption and negligence are becoming all too common. We need more sustainable and ethical practices in construction.
What measures are being put in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again? We can’t just hope for the best next time.
Good point, Kara! The DSI needs to implement stronger checks and balances during the bidding and construction processes.
If only we could be sure they will take actions seriously. History suggests otherwise, unfortunately.
With 86 lives lost, this should be a wake-up call. Stricter regulations must be enforced to prevent such tragedies in the future.
I hope they catch all those involved. Forgery on this scale can’t just be an isolated incident.
Yeah, Evelyn, I couldn’t agree more. There has to be a network behind this. It’s too complex for just a few bad apples.
The death toll from this disaster is unimaginable. My heart goes out to the families affected. They deserve justice,
When greed meets negligence, disasters happen. This should serve as an example of what not to do in business.
It’s about time we started holding these corporations directly accountable for their actions.
Meanwhile, those in power get richer. I bet there’s some serious hand-shaking behind closed doors to let such things slide.
I wonder if there’ll be transparency in the investigation process or just another cover-up.
Government agencies need to prioritize public safety over profit. When will they learn?
This kind of negligence is disgraceful. I’m furious we’re still dealing with this stuff in 2023.