Formosa scaffolding collapse: 4 defendants recommended for prison sentences

(Baonghean.vn)- At 5:30 p.m. on December 18, the representative of the People's Procuracy of Ha Tinh province, who held the right to prosecute at the trial of the scaffolding collapse at the Formosa construction site (Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ha Tinh), requested the Trial Council of the People's Court of Ha Tinh province to sentence four defendants to prison for violating labor safety regulations.

In particular, Kim Jong Wook (43 years old, Korean nationality) was proposed to be sentenced from 3 years and 6 months to 4 years and 6 months in prison; Lee Jae Myeong (62 years old, Korean nationality) 3 years and 4 years in prison; Nguyen Anh Tuan (27 years old, residing in Quang Hai commune, Ba Don town, Quang Binh) 3 years and 4 years in prison; Nguyen Thai Duc (30 years old, from Ky Trung commune, Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh) 30 months and 36 months in prison for violating regulations on labor safety.

Four defendants at trial

During the investigation of the scaffolding collapse (night of March 25, 2015), the Korean Embassy in Vietnam sent two diplomatic notes requesting consideration on the basis of humanity, friendly relations, creating the best conditions, leniency and considering the lowest penalty for the defendants. The representative of the People's Procuracy of Ha Tinh province said that this request had grounds.

According to the assessment of the People's Procuracy of Ha Tinh province, the criminal acts of the defendants caused extremely serious consequences, with huge losses: mothers lost their children, wives lost their husbands, children lost their fathers... causing great material damage.

The defendants expressed remorse, apologized, and together with the company promptly supported and compensated the families of the deceased workers and the injured. Relatives of the victims and the injured asked for a reduction in the sentences for the defendants. Therefore, the Court of First Instance considered reducing the sentences for the defendants.

A large number of people attended the trial.

In the indictment, the representative of the People's Procuracy of Ha Tinh province stated that on the night of March 25, before the scaffolding collapsed, the scaffolding shook strongly twice, causing the workers on the scaffolding to panic, stop working and run towards the two sides of the stairs. Kim and Lee went up to check the work but did not find out the cause of the incident that could have led to the scaffolding collapse, but said "OK, it's okay, it's okay" (in Vietnamese). Then, they asked the workers to return to work.

At this time, Tuan and Duc checked and discovered that the hydraulic jacks had fallen down without reporting to Kim, but arbitrarily raised the hydraulic jacks to the same level as the other hydraulic jacks. The result was 13 deaths, 29 injuries, and the Lane 2 sliding formwork system was completely damaged.

Therefore, defendant Kim, the construction site manager - the first person responsible for the scaffolding collapse, was recommended to receive the highest penalty. Next was defendant Lee, defendant Tuan, and finally defendant Duc.

An Khanh