Probe Begins as Chinese Nationals Detain Bangkok Quake Site

April 1, 2025 — Thai authorities have launched an investigation after detaining four Chinese nationals for illegally removing 32 files from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak District, a disaster zone following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28. The 30-story under-construction high-rise, built by a Chinese-backed firm and Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, crumbled during the quake, trapping dozens and prompting scrutiny of the project’s integrity.

The men, subcontractors claiming to retrieve documents for an insurance claim, were briefly released after questioning, but a formal complaint has been filed for violating restricted access rules, with legal action pending. “This is about accountability,” said Police Major General Nopasin Poolswat, as the probe deepens into the collapse and the firm’s actions.