BANGKOK – A Thai court has issued arrest warrants for 17 individuals, including a prominent construction tycoon, police announced Thursday (May 15), in connection with the construction of a skyscraper that collapsed during a powerful earthquake in March, killing numerous workers. Rescue teams recovered 89 bodies over six weeks from the debris of the partially built 30-story State Audit Office tower in Bangkok, the only skyscraper to collapse during the 7.7 magnitude earthquake centered in neighboring Myanmar.

The suspects face charges related to building code violations resulting in deaths, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, according to Police Major General Somkuan Puengsap, deputy chief of Bangkok police. Thai authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse and have yet to announce their findings. The incident was one of Thailand’s deadliest construction accidents, with seven people still unaccounted for.

An anti-corruption watchdog had reportedly warned officials about irregularities in the skyscraper’s construction before the collapse, while industry experts noted that initial material tests revealed the use of substandard steel. Those charged include executives and engineers from seven companies involved in the tower’s design, construction, and supervision, though police have not disclosed further details.

Among the 17 wanted is Premchai Karnasuta, former president of Thailand’s largest construction firm, Italian Thai Development Pcl. The company said it is cooperating with the investigation and has held discussions with investors. Premchai was unavailable for comment on Thursday. He was previously sentenced to over three years in prison in 2021 for poaching protected wildlife after being caught with carcasses of protected animals, including a black Indochinese leopard, in a wildlife sanctuary.