AYUTTHAYA — Residents of Tha Rua district on Wednesday sharply criticised provincial authorities over the penalty handed to two state engineers held responsible for the 2013 fatal suspension bridge collapse.
About 20 residents gathered in front of Ayutthaya provincial hall with placards denouncing the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning after it deducted 4% of the salaries of two civil engineers - one at the operational level and the other at the professional level - as punishment for the bridge collapse.
The two engineers, Anuwat Wichaiyo and Manop Thoobthong, were in charge of supervising the construction of Tha Rua district's Rattanakosin Bridge which was completed in mid-2012. Four people died and 23 were injured when the suspension bridge gave way on April 28, 2013. Two children, aged 10 and 14, were among the dead.
Police have charged Mr Anuwat and Mr Manop and eight other people with negligence causing death. Their cases are pending in court. The eight include local politicians, civil servants, committee members in charge of overseeing the delivery of construction work and private contractors.
Anunart Suasaming, who led the protesters, submitted a protest letter with a recommendation that the penalty be reviewed. He said the penalty given by the agency was too mild and unfair given the number of casualties.
The letter was received by the office chief who promised to forward it immediately to the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning. The protesters then dispersed.