The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is set to question a 66-year-old environmental engineer who claims his signature was forged on documents tied to the construction of a collapsed high-rise building in Nonthaburi province. The inquiry is part of an ongoing investigation into the March 28 collapse of the 30-storey State Audit Office (SAO) building, which followed a major earthquake in neighboring Myanmar.
As of this week, Thai authorities have confirmed 41 fatalities, with 53 individuals still unaccounted for in the aftermath of the incident. The building failure has prompted scrutiny of the construction process and oversight practices.
The engineer, Somkiat Chusangsuk, has formally denied involvement with the SAO project and filed a complaint with local police, alleging that his signature was forged on official project documents. He submitted supporting evidence on April 13, a day after lodging the initial report.
The documents in question list Somkiat as an engineer affiliated with PKW, a joint venture that acted as the construction supervision consultant for the ill-fated building. According to Somkiat, he became aware of the document only recently, after it was published by an online news outlet. A friend recognized his name and brought it to his attention.
He recalled being approached in 2020 by a member of the joint venture who invited him to join the project. Somkiat says he declined the offer and did not sign any paperwork or accept any compensation. He also cited a potential conflict of interest, as he currently serves as president of the Engineer Clinic under the Engineering Institute of Thailand.
Details regarding the investigation and any potential charges remain under review by the DSI.
