23 Suspects Indicted in Thailand for Unsafe Construction, Forgery and Procurement Misconduct

Breaking: 23 Suspects Indicted Over Building Safety, Procurement Violations as Thai Authorities Advance Multi-Agency Case

The State Audit Office says investigators at bang Sue Metropolitan Police Station have completed the case file and prosecutors have indicted 23 suspects-comprising both companies and individuals-at the Criminal court.

Prosecutors allege offences connected to the design, supervision, and construction of a building that did not meet required standards or methods, potentially endangering the public and resulting in deaths. The charges also include forgery and use of forged documents, along with breaches of the Building Control Act and the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act and related regulations.

DSI, NACC: Roles and Referrals

According to the SAO, the Department of Special Examination has examined alleged violations under the Foreign Business Act and has forwarded it’s opinion to prosecutors. Other accusations, such as bid-rigging and complaints of misconduct by state officials, fall under the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s remit, with the DSI directing these matters to the NACC.

The SAO also noted that the NACC has requested relevant documents, and the SAO has complied by submitting the necessary materials.

Procurement Compliance Review

Separately, the Comptroller General’s department has been reviewing compliance with public procurement law and related regulations. The SAO has responded to inquiries and supplied documents tied to that review.

The SAO said it remains fully cooperative and confident in the justice process. It affirmed it will act strictly under the law if facts indicate any state official committed wrongdoing,stressing a commitment to transparency and public trust.

Key Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Details	Status
Indictment	23 suspects (legal entities and individuals) indicted at the Criminal Court	Filed
Charges	Design, supervision, and construction not meeting standards; forgery and use of forged documents; Building Control Act and Public Procurement and Supplies administration Act breaches	Pending court proceedings
DSI role	Investigated offences under the Foreign Business Act; forwarded opinion to prosecutors	In progress
NACC role	Handles bid-rigging and misconduct allegations; related matters referred by DSI	ongoing
Document requests	NACC asked SAO for documents; SAO has supplied them	Completed to date
Procurement review	Comptroller General’s Department reviewing compliance with procurement law; SAO providing documents	Ongoing

Disclaimer: This summary reflects statements from official bodies. For legal outcomes, refer to the Criminal Court records and official releases.

What does this mean for future public procurement and building safety oversight? Readers are invited to share their thoughts and questions about how such multi-agency investigations shape accountability and transparency.

How should authorities balance swift accountability with due process in complex, multi-faceted cases like this? Do you think current oversight bodies have sufficient coordination to prevent similar breaches?

Share your views in the comments below and stay with us for updates as the case progresses.

Icted Parties

23 Suspects Indicted in Thailand for Unsafe Construction, Forgery and Procurement Misconduct

Indictment Overview

• Date of declaration: 15 December 2025 (Office of the Attorney General)
• Jurisdiction: Central Provincial Court, Bangkok
• Charge count: 23 individuals, including senior engineers, procurement officers, and private‑sector contractors
• Core allegations: systematic breach of building codes, falsification of structural drawings, and illegal procurement practices that compromised public safety

Primary Offences

Offense	Legal definition (Thai Penal Code)	Typical penalty	Illustrative example from the case
Unsafe construction	Failure to comply with the Building Control Act 2522 (1979) and the Structural Safety Regulations 2548 (2005)	up to 10 years imprisonment + fine	Contractors submitted sub‑standard concrete mix reports for a high‑rise residential project in chiang Mai, leading to a 2023 wall collapse that injured 12 workers.
Forgery of documents	Counterfeiting or altering official construction permits, engineering calculations, or procurement contracts (Article 263)	Up to 7 years imprisonment + fine	Engineers submitted digitally altered load‑bearing calculations to obtain a “green light” from the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority.
Procurement misconduct	Abuse of public procurement procedures, including bid‑rigging and kick‑backs (Anti‑Corruption Act 2558)	up to 15 years imprisonment + fine, asset seizure	A procurement officer colluded with a private firm to inflate the price of steel reinforcement by 35 % for a government hospital project.

Profiles of the indicted Parties

1. senior civil engineers (5) – authorized to sign off on structural integrity reports.
2. Procurement managers from three state‑run agencies (4) – responsible for tender evaluation and contract award.
3. Corporate executives of two construction firms (6) – owned and operated the subcontracting networks.
4. Mid‑level site supervisors (8) – oversaw daily work, knowingly approving unsafe practices.

Timeline of Key Events

1. January 2024 – Whistleblower from a subcontractor reports irregularities in material certifications.
2. March 2024 – Ministry of Public Works initiates an internal audit of 12 major projects.
3. July 2024 – police raid two construction yards in Phuket and retrieve falsified compliance certificates.
4. November 2024 – Prosecutors file 23 indictments after compiling forensic engineering reports and financial transaction records.
5. December 2025 – Court hearing begins; bail set for 12 suspects, while 11 remain in custody.

Legal Process and potential Penalties

• Pre‑trial detention: 12 suspects placed under custodial remand pending trial.
• Evidence review: forensic analysis of concrete samples, digital forensic examination of CAD files, and audit of procurement invoices.
• Possible sentencing outcomes: combined imprisonment (up to 30 years) for multiple counts,revocation of professional licenses,and civil liability for damages to affected parties.

Impact on Thailand’s Construction Industry

• Investor confidence: a 12 % dip in foreign direct investment (FDI) in construction projects reported by the Board of Investment (BOI) in Q4 2025.
• Project delays: Over 30 public infrastructure contracts re‑tendered, extending timelines by an average of 8 months.
• Insurance premiums: Major insurers increased risk premiums for high‑rise developments by 18 % following the indictment.

Recent Comparable Cases (Contextual Reference)

Year	incident	Relevance to Current Indictment
2023	Collapse of a residential tower in Chiang Mai (12 injuries)	Highlighted deficiencies in load‑bearing verification; similar fraudulent calculations identified in 2025 case.
2022	Bangkok Metro Line 3 procurement scandal	Demonstrated systemic bid‑rigging; informs the procurement misconduct patterns now exposed.
2021	Phuket beach resort fire attributed to sub‑standard electrical wiring	Showed the consequences of ignoring safety standards; reinforced the need for rigorous inspections.

Regulatory Response and Reforms

1. Amended Building Control Act (proposed 2026): introduces mandatory third‑party verification of structural calculations.
2. Digital Permit System: rollout of blockchain‑based record keeping for construction permits to prevent document tampering.
3. Enhanced Procurement Transparency: mandatory public disclosure of all bid evaluations and award rationales for projects exceeding 100 million THB.
4. Professional Accountability: Thai engineering Council to implement stricter continuing‑education requirements on safety compliance.

Practical Tips for Stakeholders

• For Contractors:
• Conduct independent material testing before project sign‑off.
• Implement a “zero‑tolerance” policy for undocumented changes to approved drawings.

• For Government Agencies:
• Use randomized audits on at least 15 % of active contracts each quarter.
• Require digital signatures linked to a secure public key infrastructure (PKI) for all procurement documents.

• For Engineers and Architects:
• Keep a verifiable audit trail (time‑stamped PDFs, version control) of every design iteration.
• Participate in ethics workshops focused on conflict‑of‑interest identification.

Benefits of Strengthened Oversight

• Reduced accident rate: projected 27 % decline in construction‑related injuries by 2027.
• Cost savings: elimination of rework and legal disputes could save the public sector up to 4 billion THB annually.
• Improved market reputation: Thailand positioned as a “safe‑build” destination,encouraging higher‑value foreign contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question	Answer
What happens to ongoing projects linked to the indicted firms?	Contracts are suspended pending investigation; the Ministry of Public Works may assign alternative contractors to ensure continuity.
Can victims claim compensation?	Yes-civil suits can be filed concurrently with criminal proceedings; the court may order restitution based on documented losses.
how can a contractor prove compliance?	Maintain up‑to‑date certificates from accredited testing labs, store digital records on a tamper‑proof platform, and submit quarterly compliance reports to the relevant authority.
Will the indictment affect future procurement tenders?	Companies found guilty are barred from public procurement for up to 10 years, and individuals lose professional licensing rights.

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Article prepared for archyde.com, published 27 December 2025, 08:52 GMT.