Article Author:
Associated Press
BANGKOK — Eastern Thailand music pub owner in fire last week Fifteen people were killed and more than 30 injured, and he was brought to court on Monday to hear criminal charges against him.
Pongsiri Pamprasong, owner of Mountain B Pub in the Sattahip district of Chonburi province, about 160 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, turned himself in late Saturday. Police charged a 27-year-old man with manslaughter and operating an entertainment venue without a license. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 baht ($7,224).
Live on stage at the
pub where his band played regularly, a fire broke out in the ceiling above the band early on Friday morning. Police said the venue was only permitted to operate as a restaurant.
"I'm sorry. I want to say sorry to the families of the victims," said Pongsiri of Pattaya. Pongsiri, who covered her face with a mask, hat and towel, said she would compensate the victims.
Many of those injured in the fire suffered severe burns and were in critical condition. He killed 13 people at the scene, another died in hospital on Friday, and the 15th victim, Thanakrit Ninoy, died on Saturday. His sister told local media that Thanakrit went to a pub with her wife and friends to celebrate her birthday, and her wife is hospitalized for treatment.
The governor of Bangkok, Thailand's largest city, said on Saturday that the city inspected more than 400 of his entertainment venues in the city before the fire and found 83 sites not complying with safety standards. Said he found it. Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters the venue would be ordered closed if it did not act to resolve the issue.
On January 1, 2009, a fire broke out at a New Year's Eve celebration at Santika's nightclub in Bangkok, killing 66 people and injuring over 200 others. The flames were apparently caused by an indoor fireworks display. The death toll rose as toxic fumes flooded the venue and set the entire club on fire.
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