Dispel steel bar doubts

The decision by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) to release 40,000 deformed steel bars, confiscated in the wake of the State Audit Office (SAO) collapse, has stirred controversy.

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The move came only shortly after the new government took shape, raising questions over timing and transparency.

Worth 40 million baht, the steel belonged to China's Xin Ke Yuan Steel, which was accused by the industrial minister under the previous government of producing substandard steel products. An earthquake on March 28 led to the collapse of the 30-storey SAO building, killing nearly 100 people.

In a subsequent probe, the Ministry of Industry found the use of SKY-branded steel bars supplied by Xin Ke Yuan Steel failed to meet safety standards. The previous government ordered all related steel stock seized for testing. Former industry minister Ekanat Promphan declared in April that some of the company's products were substandard.