Flashermac Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Bangkok Post 17 Feb 2010 The prosecution on Wednesday arraigned seven people in the South Bangkok Criminal Court in connection with the Santika Pub fire on New Year's Eve 2008 that killed 66 people and injured scores. They are Wisuk Setsawat, an executive of Santika Pub; Suriya Ritrabue, owner of White and Brothers (2003) Co which ran the pub; Thawatchai Srithumma, the pub's general manager; Pongthep Jinda, the entertainment manager; Puthipong Walailikree, the marketing manager; Saravuth Ariya, lead singer of the band Burn; and Boonchu Laosihart of the Focus Light Sound System Co, which provided special effects for the event. They are charged with carelessness leading to deaths and injuries. Fireworks set off by the band caused a fatal blaze at the pub on Ekamai Soi 9 just minutes after the New Year countdown. Only four of those indicted showed up at the court today -- Mr Thawatchai, Mr Pongthep, Mr Puthipong and Mr Saravuth. A lawyer for Mr Suriya, the nightclub owner, submitted a request for a postponement of the indictement, which was rejected. The court gave the remaining defendants 15 days to report and acknowledge the indictment, otherwise warrants would be issued for their arrest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Hi, Interesting to see which people showed up (all managers and the singer) and which didn't (all the 'top' people). Be interesting to see if any of these will ever see the inside of a prison cell. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayRay Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Which one of these guys was the parking attendant that they claimed owned the place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobbledonk Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 The singer and the lighting guy stand out as prime sacrificial lambs, with one of the lower-level managers from Santika possibly joining them. At least they got to the point of indicting someone ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clubsiam Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Thong Lor Police "fined" the Santika Club 48 times in 4 years for operating illegally. Well, actually, they took monthly bribes for 4 years to let them continue to run this death trap. A high ranking Policeman then became a "partner" and the "fines" stopped...the club continued to operate illegally. After the 66 horrific deaths, the Thong Lor Police were then tasked with investigating this tragedy. Somethings wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khun_Kong Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Didn't video show ast year show that the singer was definitely NOT responsible in any way? He was originally charged, then released, right? I wonder how much these sacrificial lambs are getting paid to throw themselves under the bus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 If I remember right, the building was listed as a residence. There wasn't a licence to operate ANYTHING in it, let alone a nightclub. Rough video footage Video inside the club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkoktraveler Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Such shit might start happening in the USA - there is no money to fine people for doing such things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 It appears the indictment goes after the people directly responsible for the fire starting or least approving the use of the fireworks. The management of the pub would be responsible for the maintaining the fire exits. Would be very unlikely that the people who were paid off to let the pub operate would be included in this indictment. The worst nightclub fire in the US (and second worse ever), the 19542 Cocanut Grove in Boston killing almost 500 people resulted only in the owner being convicted of manslaughter and serving 4 years before being pardoned. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Looks to be making some progress. Maybe heading in the right direction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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