Warrants Issued for Santika Owner, Manager

By THE IRRAWADDY / AP

A Thai court issued arrest warrants on Monday for the owner and manager of a trendy Bangkok nightclub where 66 revelers perished in a New Year's Eve fire and stampede, police said.

Wisuth Setsawat, the owner of Santika Club, and Suriya Ritrabue, the club's manager, have been charged with negligence resulting in the death and injuries of others, Deputy National Police Commissioner Gen. Jongrak Jutanont said.

"More than 1,000 people were allowed into the building, which has a capacity for only 500 people," Jongrak said. "The safety measures were also dysfunctional. Fire exits were not clearly marked; automatic fire extinguishers were not present."

Police have said the fire was likely sparked by a fireworks display on the nightclub's stage.

The two have also been charged with allowing in underage customers. A 17-year-old was found among the dead.

The fire raced through the two-story building shortly after the New Year's countdown, sending hundreds of panicked guests running for the main entrance. Victims were killed by the blaze, smoke inhalation and after being trampled in the stampede to get out.

Jongrak said several other people were being sought for questioning in the case, including staffers of the company hired to put on the fireworks display.

Among the dead were three Singaporeans, one Japanese and one Burmese national, Win Kyaw Phyo, 26, a graduate student at Assumption University of Thailand who died together with his Thai girlfriend and two other friends. His funeral was held on Saturday in Bangkok.