Neighbouring Thailand sent fire trucks and emergency workers to help cope with the crisis in the bustling border town of Poipet. In July 2018, the court sentenced Vatana in absentia to three years in jail for land-procurement fraud.A fire that lasted more than 12 hours in a hotel-casino in Cambodia killed at least 19 people and injured more than 60, officials said, while other victims were apparently not yet accounted for Thursday. Vatana, a former deputy interior minister, is wanted by Thai authorities for malfeasance in connection with irregularities involving the Klong Dan wastewater treatment project in Samut Prakan province, which is located in his former constituency.Ī warrant for his arrest was issued in July 2008 after Vatana failed to attend the reading of a Supreme Court verdict on the case against him and others accused of corruption in the wastewater project.

Vatana, 86, told a Thai media outlet that he wanted to sell his two casinos in Poipet, citing an economic downturn, but it remains unclear whether they were sold.

The two venues are owned by Grand Exclusive Poipet Cambodia, and located in Poipet town – the main border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia. Over a year ago, Vatana offered to sell his two casinos in Cambodia – Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino and Poipet Resort and Casino – for a combined price of 12 billion baht. At least two of them died, while the rest suffered broken legs, the reports said.

They were expecting Cambodian authorities to rescue them with cranes, but as the flames approached and no rescue cranes arrived, they leapt to the ground. Cambodian police said the fire was under control before noon on Thursday.Ĭambodian media said several guests had climbed to the rooftop to escape the blaze. The blaze erupted in the 355-room hotel casino at about 11.30pm after a gas tank exploded and continued into Thursday morning. The blaze erupted at Grand Diamond City Hotel on Wednesday night, killing at least 10 people and injuring another 30.

BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): The Cambodian casino and a hotel where at least 10 people died and another 30 were injured in a fire on Wednesday (Dec 28) night reportedly belongs to fugitive Thai politician Vatana Asavahame.

Casino fire in thailand