Bangkok, May 16th, 2025 – Thai authorities have arrested fifteen individuals, including construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta, in connection with the collapse of a 33-story skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, which killed 92 workers and left seven unaccounted for after a high magnitude earthquake struck in Myanmar on March 28th, 2025.
All fifteen suspects, arrested on Friday, were denied bail and remanded in custody, intensifying scrutiny of Thailand’s construction industry. Notably, Chinese executive Chuanling Zhang, a director at China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group, was not among those arrested today, having been granted bail in April on separate charges related to the same project.
The arrests follow the issuance of arrest warrants by the Criminal Court on Thursday for 17 suspects, charged with professional negligence causing death and violations of building codes as we previously reported here.
The suspects, including engineers, project supervisors, and executives from Italian-Thai Development Co., surrendered at Bang Sue Police Station on Friday morning. Two others are expected to surrender soon. Bangkok Deputy Police Chief Noppasin Poonsawat confirmed that the fifteen denied the charges and requested to submit further evidence. The court, citing the severity of the charges and flight risk concerns, rejected bail requests and ordered all to be held in custody pending further investigation.
The collapsed skyscraper, located on Kamphaeng Phet Road near the Chatuchak Weekend Market, was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development intended to house Thailand’s State Audit Office. It was the only building in Bangkok to collapse during the earthquake, prompting investigations that revealed substandard steel bars and poor-quality concrete, as reported by the industry ministry. An anti-corruption watchdog had previously flagged the project for irregularities, including cost-cutting measures that compromised safety.
Chuanling Zhang, previously arrested in April for allegedly violating Thai business law by using Thai proxies to control the venture, was released on bail and is not among the fifteen detained today. Premchai Karnasuta, convicted in 2019 for poaching protected wildlife, faces renewed public scrutiny as a lead contractor.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered a probe into all China Railway No. 10 projects in Thailand. The Ministry of Labour has disbursed 38 million baht in compensation to victims’ families.
The denial of bail for the fifteen suspects shows the case’s gravity, as Thailand seeks justice for the 92 lives lost and addresses systemic flaws in its construction sector. The investigation is expected to further clarify the roles of all involved, including those like Zhang, who remain under scrutiny despite not being part of today’s arrests.
Many of the suspects are elderly, notes The Pattaya News, over 75, which has led to intense debate on social media around bail and possible home detention. Appeals for bail by family members are expected to continue.
