Bangkok: 17 suspects involved in the collapse of the State Audit Office building have surrendered. They all denied the charges. Investigators are preparing to take them to court for detention and will oppose bail. The deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau revealed that he will continue to investigate and take action against supporters after finding that construction was 33% complete but 80% of the money had already been paid, totaling 900 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, revealed the progress of the arrest warrants for 17 suspects involved in the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General building. He said that yesterday, the investigation team went to the Criminal Court to request arrest warrants, and the court approved all 17 arrest warrants after the suspects, who were informed by the media that arrest warrants had been issued for the design group, construction supervisors, and construction contractors, gradually turned themselves in at Bang Sue Police Station since this morning. There are now 15 people, but two more are still missing, one representing a juristic person and one in his or her own name, who will arrive this afternoon.
During this time, the investigators are in the process of informing the accused of the charges, the circumstances of the case, and informing them of their rights. Initially, all 15 accused denied the charges, which is the accused's right. After this, the accused revealed that they will prepare documents and testimonies to submit to the investigators. The investigators gave them 1 week and made an appointment to submit them by May 23.
This afternoon, investigators will take all suspects to the court to request a detention order for the first time and object to bail, as this is a case that has drawn public attention and many people have died.
Pol. Col. Noppasin also said that investigators are continuing to work on this case because it involves many government officials. Currently, the police have coordinated with the Department of Special Investigation to handle the nominee and bid rigging case, which the Department of Special Investigation has accepted as a special case. He confirmed that if evidence leads to any government official, legal action will be taken without exception, starting from the person who drafted the TOR and the design contract, the work supervision contract, and other parts. The law clearly states in Sections 227 and 238 that if the criteria and standards specified are not followed, causing harm to other people and causing damage, it is an offense under the law. Similarly, government officials who support and cause such damage are also guilty.
For the construction project of the new Office of the Auditor General building, an investigation found that 22 installments of the construction budget out of 30 installments, totaling 900 million baht, were disbursed, with the Office of the Auditor General paying according to the contract, even though construction was only 35% complete, when in principle it should be 80% complete.
Currently, evidence is being collected and the results of the fact-finding investigation by the committee appointed by the Prime Minister are awaiting. The investigators confirmed that they acted according to the evidence and did not harass any individual. Any karma that anyone has committed will certainly be punished in this lifetime.
The remaining 2 suspects have turned themselves in to the investigation officers at Bang Sue Police Station. They are currently in the process of pressing charges. The police are preparing to detain them along with the 15 suspects who turned themselves in earlier, no later than 4:00 p.m.