Bangkok: Police have established a dedicated investigation team to probe the collapse of the State Audit Office building. The team is set to commence the formal collection of evidence tomorrow, following over three days of internal meetings aimed at determining the cause of the collapse.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, provided an update on the ongoing evidence collection efforts related to the incident. The investigation team, composed of members from the Central Forensic Science Division, the Police Engineering Division, and other relevant agencies, is scheduled to arrive at the construction site tomorrow morning, between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. They will gather materials such as steel bars, cement, and concrete to aid in their investigation. The investigation team was formed under Order 192, issued on April 4, with Pol. Maj. Gen. Somkuan Phuengtraphon leading the team and Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat serving as deputy team leader.
The team includes police officers with expertise in civil engineering and urban planning and has been convening at Bang Sue Police Station for over three days. Their primary objective is to determine the cause of the building's collapse, which resulted in numerous fatalities, and to assess the structural integrity of the building. Updates on the progress of the investigation are expected to be shared with the media tomorrow.
In a related development, a subcontractor recently lodged a complaint regarding non-payment and claimed to have previously reported the issue to Bang Sue Police Station, where the investigator allegedly did not accept the report. Pol. Lt. Col. Noppasin has stated that this claim will be investigated to ascertain the facts.