Police Charge Singer for Santika Fire

The police on Tuesday completed the investigation into the Santika pub fire case and charged a lead singer from a rock band with negligence resulting in other people's deaths.

Saravuth Ariya, lead singer of the band called Burn, is charged with negligence that caused deaths of people at upscale Santika nightclub that went on fire on Jan 1.

Deputy police chief Jongrak Jutanont said that Burn music group’s lead singer Saravuth Ariya, aged 28, was a prime suspect for causing the pub fire on New Year's Eve, which left 65 deaths and over 200 injuries.

“Eyewitnesses and evidence points to fireworks as the cause of the fire at the pub because the fireworks were launched towards the ceiling and the fire broke out 30 seconds after the fireworks were lit,” Pol Gen Jongrak said.

“Saravuth was seen carrying fireworks into the pub and lighting them during the countdown,” he added.

According to the investigation, the high-intensity fireworks, can rise up to 10 metres while the pub ceiling was only six metres. Other special effects that were used, however, could not exceed five metres.

Mr Saravuth denied all charges and wanted to give testimony in court.

According to Pol Gen Jongrak, bail for Mr Sarayuth is set at one million baht.

Source - The Bangkok Post