A 30-storey tower in Bangkok collapsed following a magnitude-7.7 earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, resulting in the deaths of 89 people, primarily construction workers. The incident has raised concerns about safety standards and oversight, as the building, intended for the State Audit Office, was the only structure in the Thai capital to collapse.

Premchai Karnasuta, the CEO of Italian-Thai Development (ITD), one of Thailand's largest construction firms, has turned himself in to face charges of alleged negligence in connection with the collapse. An arrest warrant was issued for Premchai and 16 others on charges of "professional negligence causing death". Premchai and 14 other suspects reported to Bangkok's Bang Sue Police station, where they denied all charges. The remaining suspects are expected to report on Monday.

If convicted, the 71-year-old Premchai could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht ($6,000). He was escorted from the police station to court and will be held in pre-trial detention while prosecutors continue their investigation.

This is not Premchai's first legal issue. In 2021, he was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for poaching protected wildlife, including a black panther. He was released early in 2023 as part of a group of inmates granted clemency for good behavior. Premchai owns nearly 12 percent of ITD's shares, according to public filings with the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Thai justice department investigators are set to examine the cement plates used in the tower's construction to gather further evidence for their case.