The Royal Thai Police Chief admitted it is still unclear whether the exit doors of “Ladprao Beer Factory” were locked or not, suspecting they might have been closed. Investigations are ongoing. He revealed that all persons involved with the restaurant are being questioned and that civil liability applies if the business owner dies. He emphasized no fixed timeline has been set, only that the process must be correct and complete. A restaurant checklist platform is planned for pilot implementation by the Metropolitan Police.
On 14 July 2026 at Government House, Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the Royal Thai Police Chief, spoke about the progress of the fire case at “Ladprao Beer Factory.” He said no report has yet been received from forensic police, but earlier that morning the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the acting Chief Medical Officer of Police Hospital met at the Metropolitan Police headquarters. He assigned investigation tasks and confirmed that the investigation is ongoing in groups. He affirmed the restaurant owner remains a critical case, still in ICU and unable to give statements.
When asked about the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior’s statement that the restaurant operated beyond its license type, Police General Kittirat said authorities are currently verifying if the restaurant had proper permission. Then they will check whether the business conducted was outside the licensed category. All of this is part of the ongoing investigation.
Regarding reports that exit doors were locked, he said there is no clear confirmation yet. From his site inspection, there are four doors. Doors 1 and 2 serve as entrances and exits adjacent to Ladprao Road.
Door 3, located near the men's restroom, was found with two locks and a doorknob. There were tables placed nearby and scattered candies. From a business perspective, if this door were open, customers could leave without paying after eating. Therefore, they suspect this door may have been closed. He has ordered further photo reviews and witness interviews.
Door 4 leads to the kitchen and is presumed to be used by staff, cooks, and employees. Whether it was used during the fire is under investigation. It is a sliding door with two screws resembling a handle. The handle was missing, but it is unclear if this was due to damage or destruction during the fire. This is also being investigated.
Regarding whether the emergency exit door lacked clear signage and if this constitutes an offense, Police General Kittirat said a small sign above door 4 leading to the kitchen was present but was damaged by fire. Forensic police have been instructed to check if the sign was an exit sign and whether it was usable. However, during the fire, the power was out and thick black smoke would have obscured visibility.
When asked who would be responsible if the owner dies, he said he has ordered investigation of the business operators and partners. If the owner dies, the law clearly states that if charges of negligence are filed, prosecution decisions will follow legal provisions. Civil liability falls on partners, registered co-owners, cooks, employees, managers, and security staff. They have been grouped for questioning to ascertain facts and await forensic reports.
Police General Kittirat added that no timeline has been set for investigation or charges. He said this matter is very unfortunate. Similar incidents occurred at Santika Pub and Mountain B in the past. He stressed this should not just be a cautionary tale but a call for strict enforcement and inspection. He prefers the investigation to be fast, correct, thorough, and clear, without pressuring subordinates with deadlines to avoid rushed work. The damage and destruction from the fire require time to establish facts.
Regarding whether systematic inspections were insufficient since officials could access the restaurant, he agreed inspections must be coordinated with relevant agencies to prevent future incidents. He personally ordered the Metropolitan Police to initiate a platform with ten key points in cooperation with Bangkok districts and related agencies. This will include checklists on evacuation plans, fire escapes, and emergency exits to ensure completeness. Compliance will be jointly monitored with districts, and violations will be prosecuted.
He acknowledged that business owners naturally seek profit but emphasized that business operations must consider potential damage and the safety of customers. This is a critical concern. Similarly, in cases of conflict, there must be plans for crowd movement and incident control. He assigned the Metropolitan Police as the initial unit to implement this platform before expanding to other regions.