Bangkok: Today, forensic police, together with officers from the Police Engineering Division and associated agencies, are set to collect evidence to determine the cause of the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General's building.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, disclosed that the investigation team from the Central Forensic Science Division, the Police Engineering Division, and other relevant agencies will be present at the construction site from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to gather evidence such as steel bars, cement, and concrete. The investigation team, led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Somkuan Phuengthap and Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat, includes experts in civil engineering and urban planning. The primary goal is to determine the cause of the building's collapse, which resulted in multiple fatalities, and to scrutinize the building's structure. Updates on the progress of the investigation are expected today.
The incident also involves a complaint from the contractor about non-payment, which was previously reported to Bang Sue Police Station but was not accepted by the investigator. This aspect will be further investigated for factual accuracy.
In a related development, Pol. Lt. Col. Woranan Srilam, Director of the Consumer Protection Litigation Division and spokesman of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), stated that the special case investigation team would coordinate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The DSI has asked the three major Thai shareholders of China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the construction company of the collapsed building, to provide information for the case. Although no perpetrator has been identified, the authorities seek to clarify their roles and involvement.
Pol. Lt. Col. Woranan also mentioned potential actions under the money laundering law if specific offenses, such as bid collusion, are found, allowing for a financial trail investigation.
The Myanmar Labor Attache in Thailand reported that 24 Myanmar workers remain trapped under the collapsed building. Of the 33 workers involved, seven are hospitalized with injuries, two have died, and 24 are missing. The workers' legal status varies, and compensation details will depend on further verification, including DNA comparisons. These workers were employed by four companies, including the parent company, Italian-Thai Development.
In a compassionate gesture, "Gun Jom Phalang" increased the compensation for the deceased from 30,000 to 45,000 baht to assist the victims' families. Relatives can claim the compensation at the shelter center designated for victims' families by the Gun Jom Phalang Foundation.
Additionally, Nong Satong, an orange cat rescued from the rubble, is receiving care after being trapped for several days. Dr. Wibhavadi Pathomraphipong and the volunteer veterinary team have provided initial medical aid and are seeking a new home for the cat, which shows no fear and enjoys human interaction. The name Nong Satong, initially thought to be linked to the State Audit Office, actually stems from a variation of the word 'strong.'