BMA completes probe into Santika Pub inferno

The investigation committee submitted a 1,000-page report to city clerk Pongsak Semsan on Monday. After summoning some 15 involved officials, the committee concluded that there were three faults: the consideration of the permit before it was issued; building inspection during construction; and inspection of the building's modification.

The committee also found that the pub's building did not comply with the blueprint submitted and that the owners had not sought permission for modifying the building, nor did they apply for a permit for the usage of the building, the source said.

In other words, the club owners had not obtained any permits for the building.

As for inspection during construction, the committee said it suspected it had not been studied by the public works, thus deeming it a negligence of duty, despite officials' claims of having done so.

As for taxes, the committee only inspected taxes that directly involved BMA, namely property and land taxes, and found that the faults in this aspect did not compare to the faults with the building. City officials also presented the committee with documents warning the club owner to pay taxes between 2005 and 2008, which means the officials had done their duty, the source said. Besides property and land taxes could be collected as far back as ten years thus its statute of liberty was still active.

The source said the committee identified officials involved in the case, which included district public works officials and their supervisor.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Prakob Jirakitti said he was told that the investigation report had been completed but hadn't seen the report yet because it had probably been sent to the city clerk first. He confirmed that if any officials were identified as being at fault, they would face legal action.