Bangkok, Thailand: Police have arrested four Chinese nationals for allegedly entering a restricted area of an under-construction building that collapsed after a powerful earthquake in the Chatuchak district on Sunday. The men are accused of attempting to remove documents from the site.
According to Pol Maj Gen Napasilp Phulsawat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the suspects unlawfully accessed the State Audit Office (SAO) construction site and retrieved 37 files from the rear of the collapsed structure. Authorities launched an investigation after receiving reports from the public about the document removal.
One of the suspects, who identified himself as the project director, was apprehended near the disaster zone. All seized documents are now in police custody for analysis by engineers to investigate their relevance to the building’s collapse.
Four Chinese nationals who were found removing documents related to the collapsed building in Chatuchak have been detained, questioned, and released. Local authorities have filed a police complaint against them for unauthorized entry into a restricted area, and they will be… pic.twitter.com/RwBC41tMl1
— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) March 30, 2025
Initial questioning revealed that the suspects held valid visas, work permits, and passports. A Chinese construction firm is under investigation in connection with the incident, which saw a 30-story high-rise collapse, killing at least 17 people and injuring 32, most of whom were construction workers. Many others remain missing.
Following the collapse and the earthquake, the Bangkok Governor declared the area a disaster zone, restricting access under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act. The Chatuchak District Office is preparing to charge the four men, who face potential penalties under the Act, including up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 6,000 baht, or both.
Rescue efforts continue as teams work to locate the missing individuals.
