Chinese executive linked to Bangkok tower collapse arrested

Thai authorities said they have arrested a Chinese executive at a company that was building a Bangkok skyscraper which collapsed in a major earthquake, leaving dozens dead.

Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong told a news conference on Saturday that a Thai court had issued arrest warrants for four individuals, including three Thai nationals, at China Railway No. 10 for breaching the Foreign Business Act.

The Department of Special Investigation, which is under the justice ministry, said in a statement on Saturday that one of the four had been arrested – a Chinese “company representative” who they named as Zhang.

China Railway No. 10 was part of a joint venture with an Italian-Thai firm to build the State Audit Office tower before its collapse.

Zhang is listed as a 49-per cent shareholder in the firm, while the three Thai citizens have a 51-per cent stake in the company.