Bangkok Post : Police to charge Santika owner

Police to charge Santika owner

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 2/01/2009 at 01:26 PM

The police planned to charge a major shareholder of Santika pub named Visuk Setsawad, better known as Hia Khao, for allowing people under 20 years of age to enter the venue.

A fire broke out at the nightclub located in Bangkok's Thong Lo district when partygoers were celebrating the New Year's countdown. The fire left at least 61 dead and 243 injured.

The police had interrogated 25 witnesses so far and had excluded arson in their investigations after knowing that the venue's insurance contact expired a long time ago.

However, Hia Khao had yet to appear before the police.

Forensic police could not identify 21 bodies yet.

Relatives and friends of suspected victims can reach the forensic police at 02-381-8930 extension 7015.

A Japanese tourist who was badly injured from the nightclub fire, Keiichi Wada, was still in a coma. Physicians at Chulalongkorn Hospital were supervising him closely after he drew much smoke into his lungs.

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Alan Oz

Discussion 15 : 08/01/2009 at 08:54 PM15
Nobody will be punished and more and more people will die. Human life is so cheap.
Ozman_Bkk

Discussion 14 : 03/01/2009 at 09:25 AM14
Everyone is yelling about charges of manslaughter. The police are in a very difficult situation. They are investigating to ascertain what actually happened but are being pressed to do something NOW. So they charge the owner with letting under 20s into the venue to shut people up while they work on real charges. Have some patience everybody. If we are sill marking time in a week THEN is the time to jump up and down. Meanwhile the media should keep the story alive to make sure the police don't ease off.
Mad police

Discussion 13 : 02/01/2009 at 11:34 PM13
QUOTE
Police to charge Santika owner
The police planned to charge a major shareholder of Santika pub named Visuk Setsawad, better known as Hia Khao, for allowing people under 20 years of age to enter the venue.............................................................
unquote

This is what the police will do in every investigation, catch a scape goat AND QUICKLY TELL THE MEDIA WHAT THEY WILL DO while investigation on the fire in ongoing. IRRESPONSIBLE, RECKLESS ATTITUDE. Wake up, guys! Why don't you say the enemies and people Mr A offended, after being the new PM, is one the cause of this problem. Use your brain, police in uniform especially top officials with authority to speak to the media, are anxious to tell the world, hey I caught a suspect, I will charge the person in court.

NOBODY IS INTERESTED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.
WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES, THEY BLAME EACH OTHER. TYPICAL THAI STYLE, NEVER CHANGE. CANNOT CHANGE LAH, YOU PAY ME I DO IT, NO MONEY...SHUT UP! Find a scape goat.

Police ChieF, PLS COMPLETE YOUR investigation, no comments while investigation is ongoing, before you or your delegated spoksman speaks to the media. Thai police.....'TIDAK APA ATTITUDE"....Police Chief....worst still..."TAK GUNA"..................................................

On the other hand, what can Mr A do? He will quickly tell the media who is the culprit, what he will do....so on.......he will talk...NO ACTION..... because he has to take care of his own rice bowl first......same as police, find a scape goat first................................................

Thaild cannot progress, if this kind attitude never change and repeat itself.

PAD.....attack.....DP support....so on........................................................

Time to do soul-searching AND IMPROVE the image and reputaton of the entire Thai police force.
JOE

Discussion 12 : 02/01/2009 at 11:10 PM12
Whitewash! This is not a good start for the new year! Allowing in underage patrons? Are they joking? What about the building codes? The fire safety permits? The place was a fire trap! No insurance? This tragic event is being monitored all over the world, it's time for the new government to take action!
Stevey

Discussion 11 : 02/01/2009 at 09:31 PM11
Charge the owners with allowing patrons under 20 to enter the club......what a ridiculous statement to make, why not charge him for not using a crossing to cross the street. Come on Thai authorities show the world that you do value human life and go after the owners with real charges......start at manslaughter and work your way up......

My condolences to all the families that have lost loved ones
Sam

Discussion 10 : 02/01/2009 at 08:48 PM10
All this is a big misunderstanding. I'm sure that once the police finds enough clues, they will announce that the blase was in fact part of the entire performance. The real culprits are the ones who started the stampede. They will be severely reprimanded.
What a waste, Hia Khao probably invested a fortune in the preparation of the New Years celebration and all this turned into a disaster because of some hooligans who can't leave a building in an orderly manner...

Okay, We all know that this isn't the first time and it will probably not be the last. Building codes aren't respected and the people in charge of enforcing the laws are incompetent and corrupt. Of course Hia Khao should be held accountable but the root of the problem lays in the hands of those who turn a blind eye (cops, building safety officers, as well as patrons).
The Santika is just the tip of the iceberg. there are many more disasters waiting to happen in and out of the 'City of Angels' and no one cares.
mac

Discussion 9 : 02/01/2009 at 08:47 PM9
If as stated there was no insurance on the building, how where they able to continue running a venue, what risk assesment was in place, and surely if there was not insurance then the police should have the venue closed down long ago.
Scott

Discussion 8 : 02/01/2009 at 07:53 PM8
And how does the punishment for allowing under 20 year olds into a nightclub compare with manslaughter?
David

Discussion 7 : 02/01/2009 at 06:25 PM7
To only charge the owner of Santika for allowing persons under the age of 20 years old is a slap in the face of the victims and their families.

A charge of manslaughter would be more suitable considering it is apparent that the pyrotechnics caused the fire.

If the police do not charge according to the crime then the families of the victims should bring civil charges against the owner of Santika and also charge the police with dereliction of duty.
Happy2009

Discussion 6 : 02/01/2009 at 05:50 PM6
´´The police planned to charge a major shareholder of Santika pub named Visuk Setsawad, better known as Hia Khao, for allowing people under 20 years of age to enter the venue´´

´´Police are looking for clues into what started the fire at the Santika pub in the first seconds of the New Year, leaving 61 dead and at least 243 injured.´´

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The owner will be charged only for allowing under 20 years of age to enter?

Police still looking for clues?(BANGKOK POST FIRST PAGE)

The Thai Police should be embarrassed for so much incompetency!!

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