The owner of the construction firm behind a condominium project which collapsed and killed 14 people is in police custody.
Chanaichon Kerdthes, owner of Plook Plang Co., who had failed to report to police after warrants were issued for him and four others following the building’s collapse on Aug. 11, Pathum Thani condominium collapse earlier this month, turned himself in to police Wednesday.
Chanaichon, son of former senior police officer Chalor Kerdthes, was immediately released on THB100,000 bail. If found guilty, he could face a decade of imprisonment.
Chainachon said he couldn’t surrender himself to police earlier as he had financial matters to take care of for his company’s clients, according to his lawyer, Chaloemchai Laisakun.
Interestingly, his father Chalor is involved in a case at the center of a long-running dispute with Saudi Arabia. Chalor was released by a court earlier this year from a 50-year sentence for his involvement in the 1989 murder of a Saudi businessman. This did not sit well with the Saudis, who have subsequently withdrawn their senior diplomat after another suspects’ brother was appointed to the National Legislative Assembly, the Bangkok Post reported.
The accident at the U Place Condominium project is said to have been caused by improper laying of cement onto the roof. 14 people died in the accident.
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