Bangkok – Chinese investments in Thailand face a meticulous examination when the host country has made the first arrest of a Chinese company official who allegedly responsible for the collapse of a building that killed more than 100 workers after an earthquake at the end of March.
The 30 -storey government audit building was the only major structure to collapse in Thailand due to the magnification tremor of 7.7 with the Myanmar epicenter at 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). He raised questions about his design, his construction controls, the materials used and the allegations of corruption and official corruption. Up to 47 construction workers have remained unable to do so, while 47 have been confirmed dead and nine injured so far.
Thai government agencies rushed to probe the validity of China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd., who is part of China, China Railway Engineering Corp., she formed a co -leprise with the Thai Thai giant, but was noted as a Thai partners who were construction of the building.
The authorities also investigated that Xin Ke Yuan Steel, a Chinese steel company whose steel bars – used in the collapsed office – have proven to be lower than subsequent tests.
Sunday, the special survey department, or DSI, arrested Chuanling Zhang, a framework from China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd. He was charged on Monday of violation of business law using three Thai candidates in the company registered by the Thai.
According to Thailand Foreign Business Act 1999, foreigners can create a joint venture with a Thai partner but are not allowed to hold more than 49%. Thai candidates are often used to get around the laws.
Zhang, who said he was an official of the Chinese state company, said that he knew the three Thai men in rural regions, but did not know them well, according to a DSI official.
He was released on the deposit of 500,000 baht (US $ 15,066) but prevented the country from leaving. If it is convicted, Zhang could incur up to three years in prison and a fine of 2 million baht (US $ 60,288).
Woranan Srilam of the CSI said that his office was looking for the three Thai men whom the media described as laity who gained small wages but hold millions of bahts of action.
“We are looking to see if Thai leaders hold participations on behalf of other people,” said Woranan. “We are also trying to find out if there was a rockering of the auctions that hampered other competitors.”
Since the collapse, the officials of the State Audit Office have only presented public condolences but have made no clear declaration. The project project made available to the public has shown too expensive and unnecessary articles, including a 200 -seat theater. The initiates said that corruption was common in state auctions, although officially unconfirmed.
An engineer filed a complaint that his signature was counterfeit as a control engineer. The authorities have not yet filed a complaint against Thai officials.
The defense of Xin Ke Yuan
The authorities also focused on a giant of Chinese steel Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co., Ltd. – The main supplier of steel bars. The Ministry of Industry found that their steel rods were of low quality.
The company’s external lawyers denied the accusations on Monday that the steel products used in the building played a role in the collapse.
“”[We] Believe that the truth will reveal that the main causes of the collapse of the state audit building were probably other factors such as design, engineers or the reduction of specifications, “said Piyapong Kongmaruan, a lawyer for Xin Ke Yuan.
“There was an erroneous concept that all Chinese companies are probably shaded. Xin Ke Yuan is fully legal and meets standards,” he said, adding that damaged steel in the rubble should not be supposed to represent the overall quality of the company’s product.
Since China has adopted strict production techniques and, in the face of export rates, the Chinese factories that use a more polluting induction furnace process have moved to Thailand. Xin Ke Yuan was recorded with a capital of 1.4 billion Baht (42.2 million US dollars) under the privileges offered by the Board of Investment, or Boi.
“You invited them to enter, but you have attached their hands and offered a band of the BOI list,” said Surasak Weerakul, another lawyer representing the Chinese cabinet. “Chinese investors are very wary.”
Some domestic voices are still critical. A Thai opposition legislator, CHUTIPHONG PIPOPPINYO, said that Thailand should seize the possibility of cleaning bad business practices and not worrying about shaded.
“All investors still want to invest in Thailand,” he told journalists.
The Woranan of the ISD said that its agency also focused on tax fraud. Initial surveys have revealed that the company, suspended for pollution since last December, deceived more than 200 million bahts (US dollars) in value -added income statements, although it said it has paid more than 800 million baht (42.1 million US dollars) in corporate taxes since 2019.
Published by Mike Firn and Tajun Kang.