Thai police have detained four Chinese nationals for unlawfully entering the site of a collapsed high-rise in Chatuchak District and attempting to remove documents without permission.
The under-construction building, a 30-storey high-rise, crumbled following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday.
The disaster has prompted an investigation into the structural integrity of the project, which was backed by a Chinese construction firm.
Police Major General Nopasin Poolswat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, stated that the four men were caught attempting to retrieve 32 files from the rear of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building.
The documents were seized, and the men were taken into custody.
The Bangkok Governor had previously declared the collapse site a disaster zone, barring unauthorised entry.
However, acting on a tip-off, police launched an investigation and apprehended one of the suspects near the scene.
The man, who identified himself as a project manager, was found to be working under a joint venture with Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, the firm overseeing the construction.
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Further searches led police to three additional Chinese nationals, all of whom were reportedly subcontractors for the contractor.
They admitted to entering the area to retrieve documents necessary for an insurance claim.
The files had been stored in a container used as a temporary site office.
Following interrogation, the suspects were temporarily released.
However, on Sunday, the Chatuchak District Office filed a complaint against five Chinese nationals, accusing them of violating public safety regulations by entering the restricted zone and removing critical blueprints and paperwork.
Police have initiated legal proceedings against the four men, while their employer remains under investigation.
Casualties mount as rescue efforts continue
According to reports, the disaster has thus far claimed 17 lives, with 32 others injured.
At least 76 individuals, primarily construction workers, remain unaccounted for.
Rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid sweltering conditions.
Despite Bangkok’s numerous ongoing high-rise projects, no other buildings suffered similar structural failures.
The collapse of the SAO building, which had been under construction for three years at an estimated cost of over two billion baht (£45 million), has raised serious concerns over construction standards and oversight.
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