Seventeen individuals, including prominent construction executive Premchai Karnasuta, surrendered to police in Bangkok on charges of criminal negligence following the collapse of a high-rise building during a devastating earthquake.

The building, which was under construction and intended to house the new State Audit Office, collapsed on March 28, 2025, leading to a confirmed death toll of 92, with a small number of additional individuals still unaccounted for.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck near Myanmar, approximately 800 miles from Bangkok, generating tremors that significantly impacted the city.

While numerous buildings in Bangkok withstood the earthquake, the project led by Italian-Thai Development Co., where Karnasuta serves as president, was the sole construction site in Thailand to experience such a catastrophic failure.

In a press briefing, Bangkok’s deputy police chief, Noppasin Poonsawat, detailed the charges against the individuals, which include engineers and architects involved in the project.

All seventeen accused deny any wrongdoing.

Evidence presented indicated a failure to adhere to national building standards, with media reports citing irregularities in project documentation and structural defects such as issues in the core lift shaft and the quality of concrete and steel utilized.

The incident has triggered ongoing investigations, with a Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for the construction professionals shortly before their surrender.

Initial media reports suggest that allegations of misconduct regarding the project’s execution have been persistent, with particular scrutiny on the involvement of the China Railway No. 10 company, a joint venture partner in the construction effort.

As the situation develops, authorities continue to examine the regulatory framework surrounding construction standards in Thailand and the implications of the project's oversight.