Myanmar earthquake: Chinese men caught stealing documents from building collapse site in Bangkok
ByHT News Desk
Mar 31, 2025 11:26 AM IST
The men were caught illegally entering the accident site during last week's powerful earthquake and removing over 30 files from there.
As the investigation into the collapse of a building continues following last week’s devastating earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar, four Chinese nationals have been detained in Thailand's Bangkok for attempting to steal sensitive documents from the site.
The Chinese men were reportedly caught removing 32 files.(AP)
The Chinese men were reportedly caught removing 32 files.(AP)
According to Thai news portal The Nation, the men were caught illegally entering the area of a high-rise building that collapsed during last week's powerful earthquake and removing over 30 files from there.
The building, the only high-rise to collapse in Bangkok due to the tremors of the Myanmar eartquake, was part of a Chinese-backed construction project. It collapsed within seconds after the 7.7 magnitude quake struck, leaving behind a heap of rubble and trapping dozens of people beneath it.
Also Read | Myanmar earthquake: Thailand orders probe into Bangkok skyscraper collapse after China firm's link found
The collapse has raised serious concerns about the handling of the disaster site and the intentions behind their actions.
Police say 32 filed removed from the collapse site
Police Major General Nopasin Poolswat confirmed to the local media that the four Chinese nationals had been caught removing 32 files of documents from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building.
The Bangkok authorities designated the site as a restricted area where no one was allowed to enter without authorisation. However, the police later received information about some individuals removing documents from the site.
Also Read | Only 1 building fell in Bangkok during Myanmar quake: About the China construction firm in focus
During the police probe, it was revealed that one of the men had a valid work permit and claimed he was the project manager for a building construction project.
Three other men were later found, and the stolen documents were recovered, including blueprints and various other paperwork related to the building's construction.
Meanwhile, the detained individuals explained to authorities that they were subcontractors working for the construction firm involved in the project.
Also Read | From Myanmar to Bangkok: How the earthquake’s shockwaves travelled over 1,000 kilometres
According to their statements, the files were crucial for the claim process and had been stored on-site in the makeshift office, the Nation Thailand reported.
Four men were released by the police but charged with violating the public announcement by entering the disaster zone and removing sensitive documents.
Chinese firm under scrutiny
The collapse of the high-rise building backed by a Chinese company has raised scrutiny about the firm's involvement in a series of accidents and failures.
The incident also raised questions about the safety protocols on construction sites, the management of sensitive information, and the responsibility of contractors to adhere to emergency regulations.
Myanmar earthquake
The toll from Myanmar's earthquake continued to rise on Sunday, as foreign rescue teams and aid rushed into the impoverished country, where hospitals were overwhelmed and some communities scrambled to mount rescue efforts with limited resources.
The 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, jolted the war-torn Southeast Asian nation on Friday, leaving around 1,700 people dead, 3,400 injured, and over 300 missing as of Sunday, the military government said.
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