DSI accepts building collapse as special case
This report was originally published by www.thainewsroom.com
THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has accepted the collapse of the unfinished 30-storey State Audit building during last Friday’s huge earthquake centred at Mandalay, Myanmar, with strong tremors felt across Thailand as a special case, TV Channel 7 said today (Apr. 2).
Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong, who directly controls DSI and is known to be quietly, practically a staunch supporter of de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, said the investigation will focus on the use of nominees in violation of Foreign Business Act with this being an offense under the Special Case Investigation Act.
Foreign entities investing in Thailand are allowed to hold a maximum 49% of the shares in a company. The contractor for the construction of this building is ITD-CREC joint venture (Italian-Thai Development Plc and Chinese Railway Number 10 Engineering Group Company) with the Chinese company holding 49% stake.
Aside from investigating the use of nominees to control the joint venture, DSI will also check whether the construction materials met Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) and whether there was bidding collusion.
DSI will invite external agencies, such as the Revenue Department and the Industry Ministry, to send experts to join the investigation, he added.
Thavi said although this is one of the world’s top construction companies he is not worried about launching an investigation which will be conducted with the utmost transparency.
Investigators will be checking possible use of nominees at 10 companies with the same set of board of directors in charge of them from the same location.
The rescue operation at the collapsed building has found another deceased victim, a woman, taking the death toll to 15 while search continues for 72 others still missing.
Photo: Thai Rath
This report was originally published by www.thainewsroom.com
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