• A Thai court has issued arrest warrants for 17 people linked to the deadly collapse of a skyscraper during a quake.
• Construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta is among those facing charges of professional negligence causing death.
• The collapse of the State Audit Office building resulted in 92 deaths and raised questions about safety standards.

A Thai court has issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals, including construction magnate Premchai Karnasuta, connected to the collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper that occurred during a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28. This incident led to the tragic deaths of 92 people and triggered extensive investigations into construction practices and safety standards, highlighting significant structural flaws in the building's design and materials used, such as substandard steel and concrete, according to Bangkok Post, Channel News Asia, and BBC.

Police have confirmed that substantial evidence indicates the construction plans and materials violated safety codes. Premchai, president of Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD), alongside other accused engineers and construction supervisors, faces charges under professional negligence laws, which could carry severe penalties, according to The Jakarta Post and NPR.

Investigations revealed that the flawed design centered around the core lift shaft and deficiencies in concrete, prompting serious concerns about the construction quality. The disaster marked the only skyscraper collapse in Bangkok, with over 400 workers present at the site when the building fell, creating one of the deadliest construction accidents in Thai history, reports India Times, South China Morning Post, and Channel News Asia.

The formal search for remains concluded, though DNA identification efforts will continue. Premchai and 15 others surrendered to the police on charges of professional negligence and have publicly denied any wrongdoing, asserting their innocence in this tragic event, as detailed by Bangkok Post and Channel News Asia.