Victim's family asks for reduced sentence for defendant in Formosa scaffolding collapse case

(Baonghean.vn) - "We know that the four defendants also work as factory workers and hired workers like us. They also have families, wives and children at home. We request that the defendants' sentences be reduced," a relative of the scaffolding collapse case said in court.

Today, December 18, the trial of the scaffolding collapse at the Formosa project (Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh) that killed 13 people and injured 29 others, entered its third day and is in the questioning phase.

Of the four defendants, Lee Jae Myeong and Kim Jong Wook (Korean nationals) denied their crimes. Defendant Nguyen Anh Tuan (27 years old, residing in Quang Hai commune, Ba Don town, Quang Binh) stood before the bar, sobbing with remorse and apologizing to the victims and their families. Defendant Nguyen Thai Duc (30 years old, from Ky Trung commune, Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh) stated that his family was in difficult circumstances and was considered a near-poor household, and his sentence was reduced so that he could return to rebuild his life and atone for his mistakes. Duc also apologized to the families of the deceased victims and his injured co-workers.

Four defendants at the first instance trial.

At the trial, many mothers, wives, fathers, and brothers of the deceased workers stood up to show tolerance and ask the panel of judges to reduce the sentences for the defendants. At the same time, they requested the International Construction and Labor Supply Joint Stock Company (Nibelc) - the human resource supplier and Samsung C&T Joint Stock Company - the construction unit, to support additional compensation and fulfill their commitments to the families and workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh (in Cong Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, Nghe An) - wife of victim Nguyen Cong Son, sat in tears at the trial when hearing the defendants deny their crimes. Ms. Minh said that she had received compensation and support of 450 million VND and an insurance book of 200 million VND.

"My husband passed away, and I have to take care of my mother, who is over 70 years old, and four children who are still too young. Every time I see my youngest child running to the altar and calling out, 'Dad,' my heart aches. I ask the company to consider the insurance policy for my family. He is gone, even though I know there is nothing that can compensate me and my children. I ask for a lighter sentence for the defendants." Representatives of Nibelc Company and Samsung C&T both expressed sympathy for the difficulties of Ms. Minh's family, and promised to report to the company's leaders to consider the insurance issue.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh (sitting at the head), wife of victim Nguyen Cong Son in Nghe An, asked for reduced sentences for the defendants.

Ms. Chu Thi Kieu (from Nghe An) - wife of Mr. Lam Huu Chinh, said: "My child is still young, just like the defendants' children. I don't want the children to have no father to teach them, so I hope to consider reducing the sentence so that the defendants can soon return to their wives and children."

The company representative stood up and promised to consider the above proposal and said that anyone who had questions about the unsatisfactory policy should contact the company.

This afternoon, December 18, at the trial, two injured workers, Hoang Van Thu (in Dien My commune, Dien Chau district) and Nguyen Van Tai (in Dien An commune, Dien Chau district) both stood up and said: "We request that the company be responsible and commit to supporting us even after the trial ends. We know that the four defendants also work as workers and hired workers like us, they also have families, wives and children at home, we request that the defendants be considered for leniency."

Mr. Hoang Van Thu (in Dien My commune, Dien Chau district) - an injured worker, stood up to request support and additional compensation for the victims.

The defense attorney for the defendants Duc and Tuan stood up and asked Samsung C&T Company: "Is the scaffolding system imported into Vung Ang new or old? Was it declared to the authorities? Is there a plan to ensure labor safety?"

Samsung C&T Company representative replied: "The scaffolding imported into Vietnam is 100% new. When importing scaffolding, it is declared to Customs and authorities in Vietnam. The company has a plan to ensure labor safety for workers."

As reported, on the night of March 25, 2015, at the construction site of the Son Duong wharf caisson (wharf number 7) located in the construction area of ​​the Formosa project (Vung Ang Economic Zone), a tragic scaffolding collapse occurred, killing 13 workers from Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and injuring 29 workers.

On the afternoon of December 18, the court continued to question and clarify the companies' responsibilities in ensuring labor safety at the construction site.

An Khanh