Bail allowed for Chinese executor of Chinese firm
Three Thai people suspected of being nominations for a Chinese state-owned development organization, a key partner in the collapsed state inspection tower, were arraigned in court on Tuesday.
They denied the claims and were bound over in prison for 12 weeks to help further research. They did not apply for release on parole.
Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) officials took Manas Sri-anan, Prachuap Sirikhet and Sophon Meechai to the Criminal Court on Tuesday after completing their initiial interrogation of the three men following their surrender on Monday.
On Monday, the judge approved conditional parole for Zhang Chuanling, who holds 49 % of the securities in China Railway No. 10 ( Thailand ) Co, with a 500,000 baht cash surety.
The three Thais control 51 % of the shares in the company.
The judge banned Mr Zhang him from leaving Thailand without prior consent and set a strict investigating plan.
Mr Zhang is accused of breaching the Foreign Business Act by arranging for the three Thais to own the stock on his behalf, so he is in command.
He denied the charge and claimed he represented a state-owned sector in China that was investing in Thailand, DSI assistant captain Pol Capt Surawut Rangsai said.
Researchers learned that Mr Manas, Mr Prachuap and Mr Sophon worked as washers and individuals. Their background did not convince authorities they could keep down executive positions in a business.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong said on Tuesday the claim by Mr Zhang that he represented a state-owned Chinese firm may not alter the larger investigation into the decline of the empty State Audit Office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak area during the March 28 quake, with great loss of life.
China Railway No. 10 ( Thailand ) Co and Italian-Thai Development Plc formed the joint venture that won the construction contract for the 30-storey project.
There were 103 persons working inside when the building collapsed without any notice. Firefighters have found 51 systems, and nine injured individuals. The research of the great pile of steel and concrete continues.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration confirmed on Tuesday that 43 staff were still unaccounted for.
Pol Maj Gen Watee Assawutmangkul, captain of the Northern Police Forensic Science Division, said firefighters had likewise retrieved more than 100 human tissues and other remnants from among the dust. All would be carefully examined and identified.