Major General Nguyen Huu Cau: Prosecuted the case of Nam Non hydropower plant releasing the gate without notice causing death

Speaking to Nghe An Newspaper at the discussion group - 9th Session, Provincial People's Council term XVII on the afternoon of July 10, Major General Nguyen Huu Cau said that the prosecution order was approved on July 8 for the act ofInvoluntary manslaughter due to violation of professional or administrative rules.

Major General Nguyen Huu Cau speaks at the group discussion session on the afternoon of July 10.

Previously, as reported by Nghe An Newspaper, at around 2:00 p.m. on May 23, Vi Van May and his younger brother Vi Van Than, both residents of Xa Luong commune, were rowing a boat under the Nam Non hydroelectric dam area when the plant released water. However, both brothers could not get out of the discharge area in time, the water was released so strongly that the boat capsized.

Authorities search for the body of Vi Van May in front of the Nam Non Hydropower Plant's spillway. Photo: Thach Quynh

As soon as the incident was discovered, the locals informed the factory to close the spillway. Mr. Than was fortunately saved by the locals, but Mr. May was swept away by the water. It was not until more than 2 hours later (around 4:00 p.m. the same day) that the body of the victim Vi Van May was found 30 meters from the original boat location.

Mr. Vi Van May (born in 1985), residing in Xieng Huong village, Xa Luong commune, Tuong Duong district, has a wife and 2 children, and his family is in difficult circumstances.

Immediately after the incident, Nghe An Newspaper and other press agencies had many news and articles reflecting the incident.

During the meeting with voters in June 2019, the Director of Nghe An Police personally visited Xa Luong commune, visited the victim's family and directed the authorities to clarify the incident.

Nghe An Police Director Nguyen Huu Cau visits the wife of Vi Van May, the man who died after the Nam Non hydropower plant released water without notice, as reported by Nghe An Newspaper. Photo courtesy of Tien Hung

On July 9, Mr. Dau Van Hiep - Vice Chairman of Xa Luong Commune People's Committee (Tuong Duong District) said that, under the witness of representatives of the commune government, Xieng Huong Village Management Board, Nam Non Hydropower Plant agreed to compensate the family of Mr. Vi Van May with an amount of 650 million VND.