Bus fire tragedy: senator pushes for accountability

Senator Alongkot Vorakee petitioned the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) to look into alleged misconduct committed by Sing Buri’s land transport authorities in their inspection of the safety standards of a bus, which caught fire, killing three teachers and 20 students on Oct 1.
The victims, from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Lan Sak district of Uthai Thani, were killed while travelling on a field trip.
The senator said on Monday that the bus, owned by a private transport company, was registered in Sing Buri and passed regular safety standard inspections, but after the fire, it was found that 12 compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders had been fitted, even though the bus was supposed to have only six such cylinders.
Mr Alongkot said that was the key evidence of misconduct for which the Sing Buri land transport office and its engineers and technicians, responsible for ensuring the bus met safety standards, should be held accountable.
He has now urged the ACD to launch a probe parallel to the ongoing investigation conducted by Khu Khot police station in Pathum Thani. The incident occurred in Pathum Thani while the bus travelled to its destination in Nonthaburi.
The senator said he had learnt from the Khu Khot investigators that they should be able to forward the investigation report to prosecutors with a request to have the bus driver and the transport company arraigned by Nov 3 or no later than Jan 3.
Responding to the senator’s petition, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said information suggests that several state officials must be held accountable for the fatal bus inferno. The ACD is under the CIB.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said more time is now needed for the authorities to gather more evidence before they pursue legal action. He was speaking after a meeting with the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission on the matter.