BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankaew, has revealed on October 21 that a probe into the deadly school bus fire has uncovered potential involvement of government officials.
The investigation, he said, suggests that multiple government agencies could face legal action for their alleged roles in the tragedy.
A school bus, carrying students and teachers from Uthai Thani for a field trip caught fire during a field trip on Oct 1, tragically killing 23 people.
The Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission for Public Sector (PACC) are jointly investigating the case.
PACC Secretary-General Phumwisan Kasemsuk has confirmed that officials who approved or permitted the conditions that led to the fatal incident could be held accountable.
While declining to provide specific details to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation, he assured that the authorities are working diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, a senator, Alongkot Worawi, has filed a complaint with the police’s Anti-Corruption Police Division to investigate the Singburi Provincial Transport Office and all engineers who inspected the vehicle.
Alongkot questioned the thoroughness of the technical examination of the bus, particularly its gas tanks.
The senator suggested that the fire might have been caused by improper installation of the gas tanks and called for a broader investigation into the role of transportation officials in the incident. (TNA)
