BANGKOK – Thai authorities have detained four Chinese nationals for allegedly entering a restricted disaster zone in Bangkok’s Chatuchak District. The individuals were found at the site of a collapsed government building, reportedly attempting to retrieve documents. The collapse occurred after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and parts of Thailand on Friday.
According to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, officers launched an investigation after receiving public reports of individuals removing materials from the State Audit Office (SAO) construction site. Law enforcement officers subsequently arrested one suspect near the site, who identified himself as the project director overseeing the building’s construction. Further inquiries led to the detention of three additional suspects.
A Thai media crew on Sunday observed four men entering a container that served as a site office. The men later emerged carrying 32 folder files before scaling a wall near Bang Sue junction, where a pickup truck was waiting. Reporters promptly alerted police at the scene, leading officers from Bang Sue Police Station to intercept the vehicle and recover the documents. The files reportedly contain details about the construction process, including interactions between site contractors and regulators.
Authorities confirmed that a total of 37 documents were taken from the rear of the collapsed structure before being recovered and placed under police custody for further examination. Investigators plan to consult engineers to determine whether the documents hold any relevance to the building’s collapse.
The Chatuchak District Office has filed a formal complaint against the individuals under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act, which prohibits unauthorized entry into restricted disaster zones. Under this law, violations can result in penalties of up to three months in prison, a fine of up to 6,000 baht, or both. The four detained individuals are reported to be employees of a Chinese local contractor and hold valid work permits, visas, and passports.
Following the disaster, the Bangkok Governor declared the site a restricted area, with strict entry regulations in place. Officials have urged the public to avoid the zone unless they have explicit authorization from city authorities.
The original contract for the State Auditor’s headquarters was approved by the cabinet in 2020, with a budget of 2.56 billion baht.
Present at the scene were senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Napasilp Phulsawat, who confirmed that legal proceedings will move forward once the case is officially filed. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. – BERNAMA
