Thailand: Nightclub owner arrested after fire that killed 15 people

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The fire broke out on the night of Thursday to Friday at Mountain B, a nightclub near the seaside resort of Pattaya, about 180 kilometers from the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Thai police have arrested a nightclub owner after last week’s fire at his shop near Pattaya (east) that killed 15 people, law enforcement officials said Sunday.

The fire broke out on the night of Thursday to Friday at Mountain B, a nightclub near the seaside resort of Pattaya, about 180 kilometers from the Thai capital, Bangkok.

The day before Saturday, the death toll from the fire became heavier, reaching 15 dead, according to an emergency service. Most of the victims were found clustered near the entrance to the nightclub and in the toilets, with extensive burns.

A police officer in Chonburi province confirmed yesterday that the nightclub owner had surrendered to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

“He is under arrest and police will seek the court’s approval on Monday (sat: today) to keep him in custody during the investigation,” he told AFP.

The 27-year-old man will be prosecuted for serial “manslaughter” and “lack of a liquor license,” the officer added.

The charge of manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 baht (€5,500).

The fact that the walls were lined with sound-insulating foam to isolate the space from outside sounds helped the fire spread quickly and complicated the work of firefighters, according to emergency services.

RES-EMP

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