Thai nightclub fire: owner surrenders
Jan 13, 2009
The owner of a Bangkok nightclub in which 65 people died in a fire on New Year's Eve has surrendered to police.
Wisuk Setsawat, the main shareholder in the Santika club, gave himself up a day after a court issued an arrest warrant.
He will be charged with violating safety laws and allowing under-age people into the club, police said. If convicted he could face up to ten years in jail.
The court also issued an arrest warrant for club manager Suriya Ritrabue, who is still on the run.
The Santika nightclub in a trendy Bangkok neighbourhood was popular with both foreigners and Thais.
Among the dead were three Singaporeans. At least 20 foreigners from the UK, Japan, Australia, France and the US were treated in hospital.
The cause of the fire was still not clear, but witnesses blamed fireworks set off inside the club at midnight.
Other reports suggest it was due to an electrical fault.
