Pub operator gets three years in jail over Santika fire
The Supreme Court has overturned the acquittal of an executive of a Bangkok pub that burned down due to exploding fireworks on New Year's Eve seven years ago, resulting in the death of 67 people.
Wisuk Setsawat, executive of White and Brothers (2003), was sentenced to three years in jail after en had already been acquitted by the Appeals Court.
Boonchu Laosihanart, executive of Focus Light, who was responsible for arranging the fireworks, was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.
The accident took place on the late night of December 31, 2008, at the Santika Pub on Ekkamai Road. Hundreds of people were getting ready to usher in the New Year when the fireworks sparked the fire that engulfed the pub.
Many people were unable to escape the inferno because the venue did not have enough fire exits. The survivors said the pub had no extinguishers and most of the bodies of the victims were found piled up at the doors and windows. Dozens were injured.
The plaintiffs said that the defendants provided no floor plans of the building, no signs to mark the fire exits and no emergency lighting to guide people out of the building in emergency situations.
More than 1,000 people were celebrating at the venue despite the fact that it can only accommodate 500 people safely.
The Supreme Court dismissed Wisuk’s claim that he was not in the company’s executive list, saying he was operating the pub at the time of the accident.
The court also ordered Boonchu and his company to pay Bt5.12 million compensation to the victims of the fire and their families.
