Hanoi apartment fire: The landlord confessed to causing outrage, 1 defendant supported 200 million VND

Today (10/3), the People's Court of Hanoi conducted the trial of 8 defendants in the fire of Khuong Ha mini apartment (Thanh Xuan, Hanoi). In court, the apartment owner made statements that made many people angry.

Accordingly, the subject Nghiem Quang Minh (45 years old), the owner of a mini apartment on Khuong Ha Street (Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi) was prosecuted for the crime of "violating regulations on fire prevention and fighting" due to a serious fire that caused the death of 56 people.

At the trial, Minh repeatedly presented in a roundabout manner about the mishandling of construction permits and overcoming problems related to fire prevention and fighting. The defendant replied that he did not focus on the implementation of the requirements for dismantling the illegal construction part and overcoming violations of fire prevention and fighting.

According to the issued permit, the construction density at this mini apartment is only allowed to a maximum of 70%. However, Minh has arbitrarily built up to 100%, seriously violating regulations on urban management.

Minh testified that, due to lack of understanding of the law, he did not properly implement the fire prevention and fighting process. The defendant also justified that during the construction process, no agency reminded or asked him to complete the documents, appraisal or acceptance of fire prevention.

However, the investigation records show that the authorities have repeatedly inspected and asked Minh to demolish the illegal construction. For example, in 2015, when the project was being constructed to the 7th floor, the Construction Inspectorate of Thanh Xuan district made a record of violations and the District People's Committee issued a decision to sanction 15 million VND, forcing Minh to demolish the illegal part of the work. However, the enforcement has been delayed, and there is no close supervision from the authorities.

After Minh's words, many people expressed their frustration on online forums. Most opinions said that the defendant could not use the excuse of "ignorance" to justify serious mistakes that led to the tragedy of the mini apartment fire. Some comments from people:

"The words are unconvincing, such a serious case cannot be blamed for ignorance"; "The apartment owner clearly knows that his actions are wrong, but still deliberate"; "Ignorance or deliberate? In my opinion, it is necessary to sanction very strictly so that no more heartbreaking incidents will occur,...

Also at the trial, the Hanoi People's Court questioned the defendant group of former leaders of Khuong Dinh ward about the act of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences". Defendant Tran Trong Khang - Captain of the Construction Inspection Team of Thanh Xuan District People's Committee, in the period of 2013-2016 - testified that he was in charge of and monitored the construction field of 11 wards in the area, including Khuong Dinh ward.

When Minh's work was built to the 7th floor, Khang received a report about the mistakes of this work. The defendant reported to his superiors to issue an administrative sanction of 15 million VND and issued a written request to the investor to dismantle the violation by himself.

Khang explained that the process of dismantling violations was due to his own many tasks and trust in ward-level officials, so he did not closely monitor and monitor closely. The defendant felt partly at fault for the apartment fire and apologized to the victims' families. At the same time, he voluntarily contributed 200 million VND to support "not showing up" but had bills and lit many incense sticks for the unfortunate.

Meanwhile, the defendant Nguyen Dinh Quan - former head of the Construction Inspection Team of the People's Committee of Khuong Dinh ward - testified that when the foundation of the apartment was built, the unit came to inspect for the first time and the second time was when the construction reached the 7th floor.

"This is the negligence and blame of the construction force, from the foundation floor to the 7th floor, which has ignored, not come down to inspect and urge regularly, leading to the situation of Nghiem Quang Minh building 100% construction density", the chairman said harshly.

Defendant Quan further testified that, at the end of July 2015, when detecting violations on the 7th floor, the Construction Inspection Team of the People's Committee of Khuong Dinh ward made a record of violations and made a proposal to the leaders to make a decision to suspend the construction.

When Thanh Xuan district issued a decision to enforce the wrong part of the project, with the responsibility of the Construction Inspection Team of the People's Committee of Khuong Dinh ward, Quan planned and developed a dismantling plan. In the process of dismantling the violation, the defendant directly inspected from the 1st floor to the 7th floor to inspect and make a record of the demolished parts but did not sign for confirmation.

Bac Giang 'bends' before the fire: Ve Pagoda 'fades', antiquities 'destroyed? Nguyễn Khanh16:05:26 10/02/2025Ve Pagoda, an ancient pagoda more than 300 years old in Bac Giang, was burned down in a serious fire on the morning of February 10, 2025. Although there was no loss of life, the precious cultural heritage of the pagoda was severely damaged.