Bangkok: Bang Sue Police Station investigators have transported Premchai and 14 other suspects to the Ratchada Criminal Court for initial detention in connection with the Office of the Auditor General building collapse case. Authorities have opposed bail, citing the severe consequences, including a significant number of deaths and extensive damages resulting from the incident.
According to Thai News Agency, the suspects were escorted in three vans to the Criminal Court on Ratchada for a detention period of 12 days. Premchai, one of the key suspects, requested special accommodations due to health issues, as he is in a wheelchair and requires a urinary catheter. Initially, he sought permission to travel in a private car with his lawyer, but this request was denied. Instead, investigators arranged for him to be transported in an empty pickup truck from Bang Sue police station, which was more accessible than the vans.
During the transfer, media attempts to question Premchai were met with silence. Investigators reiterated their objection to granting bail for all 15 suspects, emphasizing the case's significance due to the public interest and the high number of casualties and damages. It was initially reported that the relatives of the suspects had prepared bail amounts of 300,000 baht each.
Two additional suspects, one a juristic person and another an individual, have postponed their surrender, with their lawyers requesting a delay until the morning of July 19.