Four people died when the upstairs disco in the two-floor complex on Patong’s Bangla Rd caught fire on August 17 last year. Thanks to the widespread use of styrofoam décor, the fire turned into an inferno in minutes.
The Tiger Group’s legal counsel, Thamrongsak Boonrak, told The Phuket News this week, “Tiger just want a fair judgement in the case.
“Evidence was removed by officials [immediately after the fire]. Then they held a press conference.
“We want to show our evidence before we are accused. In fact, many people had come into the disco [on the night of the fire] and were sitting in the disco because it was raining.
“Then lightning hit the electricity transformer outside the building. That caused a lot of sparks. I am no expert, but even I can understand that’s how the fire started.
“We cannot and will not accept that the accident was our fault. I have collected all the evidence myself and sent it to the Regional Prosecutor – twice.”
Phuket’s Chief Public Prosecutor, Chiengsaen Panya, told The Phuket News, “I know that Tiger already sent their evidence to the Regional Prosecutor’s Department for the South of Thailand.”
He explained that the Regional Prosecutor has the power to amend the charges in a case, and to order further investigations before the case comes to court. Tiger has been charged with negligence causing death and injury following the fire.
“I believe we will know the regional prosecutor’s opinion soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tiger continues to do business in the building where the blaze took place. The downstairs area is full of shops doing brisk business.
Upstairs, however, where the four victims died, the bare shell has been cleaned up but is empty and roofless, looking up into the night sky.