Charged with manslaughter of Taiwanese company leader who killed 6 Vietnamese

The president of Tich Ca company and the factory manager were charged with manslaughter and banned from leaving Taiwan.

According to CNA, company president Chen Hung-ju and factory manager Hsieh Chao-yi were arrested on the evening of December 14 after a fire broke out early that morning, killing six Vietnamese workers.

According to a preliminary investigation by the Taoyuan City Prosecutors Office, the two men were found guilty of manslaughter. They were released on bail of one million TWD (more than 33,000 USD) yesterday but were banned from leaving Taiwan.

Six Vietnamese victims were trapped for four hours as the fire engulfed the warehouse, which had been converted into a dormitory on the second floor. Rescuers found their bodies at noon on December 14, but they could not be identified. Five others escaped with only minor injuries.

UDN quoted the Taoyuan Construction Management Office as saying that city regulations prohibit factories and workshops from being converted into dormitories for migrant workers. About 400 square meters of Tich Ca’s warehouse was used as a temporary residence for workers without permission. There was no record of officials inspecting the dormitories at the site.

Tich Ca Company is the owner of the warehouse where the fire occurred. Photo: Taiwan Observer

The company specializes in manufacturing automotive heat-insulating film and scratch- and explosion-proof safety film for LCD screens. It has been fined and ordered to stop operations many times for violating labor safety regulations.

In addition to compensating the victim's family, Tich Ca must also pay a fine and be responsible for criminal charges when the prosecutor's investigation results.

Taoyuan police have asked relatives of the six Vietnamese workers to come to Taiwan soon to help identify the bodies using DNA testing.

Warehouse and dormitory of Vietnamese workers collapsed after fire.

Vietnam has asked Taiwanese authorities to promptly investigate the cause of the incident. The Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei has asked representatives of Vietnamese dispatching enterprises to help care for the injured and work with Taiwanese employers and brokers to ensure insurance coverage for the workers.

According to VNE