PIE viaduct collapse: Two more individuals to face charges

A consultant who approved the design and supervision of the construction works in the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) viaduct that collapsed and killed one in July last year (2017) will be charged in court next Wednesday (30^th May).

Dr. Robert Arianto Tjandra, 44, the qualified person from CPG Consultants - a subcontractor in the viaduct project - will be charged for multiple counts under the Building Control Act and the Workplace, Safety and Health Act for the accident, according to court records for upcoming cases.

The Acts come under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) respectively. When contacted, a spokesman for MOM said it has served summons to Dr. Tjandra and that the full charges would be read next Wednesday.

In addition, Mr. Leong Sow Hon, 60, a top executive from Calibre Consulting Singapore, also faces charges under the Building Control Act on the same day for the viaduct collapse. The company was the accredited checker in the project.

The Straits Times has contacted CPG and Calibre for comment. This brings the total number of individuals to be charged for the fatal accident to at least five. ST reported on 22^nd May that Or Kim Peow Contractors and at least three others will face charges under the Building Control Act and the Workplace, Safety and Health Act in relation to the incident.

In a statement to the stock exchange last week, home-grown construction group OKP Holdings had announced that its wholly owned unit, Or Kim Peow Contractors, as well as Group Managing Director Or Toh Wat, have received summons from the BCA and MOM in relation to the incident and will be charged on 30^th May.

Two other employees Allen Yee and Wong Kiew Hai - the Project Director and Project Engineer, respectively, for the project - will also be charged on the same day.

Or Kim Peow Contractors was the main contractor of the PIE viaduct project in Upper Changi that collapsed on the morning of 14^th July last year (2017). It was found that a 40m section of the viaduct had given way, with preliminary findings pointing to corbels - support structures - breaking under the weight of wet concrete.

Chinese worker Chen Yinchuan, 31, was killed while 10 others were hurt - two seriously. Post-incident checks also revealed cracks at 11 other locations along the viaduct. ST understands that Or Kim Peow Contractors and Mr. Or face charges of failing to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of employees by not conducting sufficient risk assessments on the corbels even after becoming aware of cracks on them.

They are also believed to be facing charges for allegedly carrying out unapproved strengthening works to sections of the viaduct.

A spokesman for CPG Consultants had told ST in late July last year that the Qualified Person (QP) was Dr. Tjandra. ST understands that Dr. Tjandra had signed off on the design and also the supervision work of the project.

Design and supervision QPs are responsible for coming up with building plans and checking that construction works are carried out as specified. Supervision QPs also typically direct a team of qualified site supervisors to carry out checks.

Typically, the QP's load calculations are double-checked by an independent Accredited Checker (AC). The AC in the Upper Changi Road East work site is Calibre Consulting Singapore, LTA tender documents show.

It is common for the QP to oversee design and supervision though this may create conflicts of interest, building and project management experts had told ST. It was revealed in Parliament last August that OKP secured the contract to build the viaduct with a bid that was lowest in price and lowest in quality.