PUBLISHED: 5 Apr 2025 at 06: 10
The Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) has identified three Thais suspected of acting as nominees holding shares in China Railway No. 10 Thailand Co, which was awarded the contract to construct the State Audit Office’s ( SAO ) 2.1-billion-baht building that collapsed in Bangkok during the earthquake on March 28.
DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam said on Friday that the three defendants are identified as Prachuab Sirikhate, Sophon Meechai and Manas Srianan.
He said that DSI authorities raided Mr Prachuab’s residence in Roi Et’s Phon Sai city, but he was not it.
He said they only found his wife, who told them that Mr Prachuab works as a hired hand doing design work and earns just about 10, 000 a month.
” This is despite data that he holds stocks in various companies. This may offer sufficient grounds to complaints about candidate shareholdings”, Pol Maj Yutthana said, adding that authorities are tracking down the other two offenders.
Kanokraiwin Burinnan, an accountant, said that an initial examination found that the three Thais were the bank’s owners and shareholders.
She said that Mr Manas again held 360, 000 shares in the company and afterwards transferred almost all of the stock to Mr Sophon.
Mr Manas now holds just 0.0003 % of the firm’s stock.
The DSI is investigating the discuss exchange between the two gentlemen, she said.
Mr Kanokraiwan also said that it was found that the three Thais have previously worked as building companies when, but they still hold shares in the company.
According to sources at the DSI, Mr Sophon holds 40.79 % of shares in China Railway No. 10 ( Thailand ), while Mr Prachuab holds 10.2 %.
Pol Capt Surawut Rangsai, the DS I’s assistant director-general, said that China Railway No. 10 ( Thailand ) was awarded contracts for construction projects in the government sector worth 22 billion baht from 2019 to 2024.
The DSI may launch an investigation into these jobs, which will get no more than two weeks, he said.
Pol Maj Yutthana also said that DSI authorities are in the process of locating the mind company of China Railway No. 10 ( Thailand ).
He said first testimony are expected to be summoned for questioning next year.
He also added that the DSI is investigating the company for alleged cost collaboration and the argument that contenders were used to carry the company’s stocks, which has now been accepted by the DSI as a particular situation.
ITD-CREC, a cooperative venture between SET-listed Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway No. 10 Thailand Co, was awarded the contract to build the then destroyed tower for the SAO.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong recently said the issue of choice shareholders and companies should be investigated statewide.
He said the DSI will verify the company’s joint ventures and general business activities to ensure full transparency.