Khuong Ha apartment fire: 7 people involved 'revealed', prosecuted?

The Hanoi People's Procuracy has just completed the indictment to prosecute 7 defendants related to the fire at a 9-storey mini apartment building on Khuong Ha Street (Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi), which burned down on the night of September 12, 2023, killing 56 people.

Accordingly, defendant Nghiem Quang Minh (born in 1979, residing in Yen Hoa ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, owner of a 9-storey apartment building, was prosecuted for "Violating regulations on fire prevention and fighting". 6 people were also prosecuted for "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences", including: Pham Tan Anh (former vice chairman of the People's Committee of Khuong Dinh ward, from 2018 to the time of prosecution);

Chu Xuan Son (former Vice Chairman of Khuong Dinh Ward People's Committee, 2015-2020 period; at the time of prosecution, he was Chairman of Thanh Xuan Nam Ward People's Committee); Nguyen Thi Kim Trang (former cadastral and construction officer of Khuong Dinh Ward, 2010-2018 period; at the time of prosecution, he was cadastral and construction officer of Thanh Xuan Bac Ward);

Nguyen Tuan Anh (former deputy head of Khuong Dinh Ward Police); Nguyen Dinh Quan (former head of the Construction Inspection Team of Khuong Dinh Ward, period 2014-2016; at the time of prosecution, he was head of the Construction Inspection Team of Nhan Chinh Ward); Tran Trong Khang (former head of the Construction Inspection Team of Thanh Xuan District, period 2013-2016).

According to the indictment, Nghiem Quang Minh is the owner of a 240 m2 plot of land at No. 37, Alley 29/70, Khuong Ha Street. On March 11, 2015, Minh was granted a construction permit by the Thanh Xuan District People's Committee to build a single-family house on the above plot of land, including 6 floors, a mezzanine and an elevator shaft. However, from May 14, 2015 to the end of December 2015, Nghiem Quang Minh hired a contractor and arbitrarily changed the design of the project, building 9 floors and 1 shaft; 3 floors higher than the construction permit.

At the end of July 2015, when the construction was reaching the 7th floor, the Construction Inspection Team of Khuong Dinh Ward discovered the violation and made a record of administrative violation, requiring Minh to stop construction, and at the same time, report to the Ward People's Committee and the Construction Inspection Team of Thanh Xuan District. Based on the advice and report of the Construction Inspection Team, on July 29, 2015, the People's Committee of Khuong Dinh Ward issued a decision to suspend the construction of the project.

On August 3, 2015, Thanh Xuan District People's Committee issued a decision to administratively fine Minh 15 million VND; forcing him to demolish the illegal construction. On August 26, 2015, Thanh Xuan District People's Committee issued a decision to enforce the decision to administratively fine him.

The Hanoi People's Procuracy determined that after receiving the decision to enforce the above-mentioned administrative penalty decision, within the assigned duties and responsibilities, Chu Xuan Son, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Khuong Dinh Ward, without knowing Nguyen Dinh Quan, Nguyen Thi Kim Trang, and Pham Thanh Tung, made a record and signed to confirm that Minh had demolished the illegal construction on the 7th floor, and Quan, Trang, and Tung did not require Minh to demolish the construction with a density different from the construction permit.

After making a record of Minh's self-demolition, Quan, Trang, and Tung did not report on the policy for continuing to handle Minh's illegal construction. Chu Xuan Son did not inspect, supervise, or urge the three defendants mentioned above to advise on the implementation of the enforcement decision of the Thanh Xuan District People's Committee.

Previously, on the night of September 12 to the morning of September 13, 2023, a mini apartment building at No. 37, Alley 29/70, Khuong Ha Street, Thanh Xuan District caught fire, causing serious consequences, killing 56 people and injuring 37 others.

This mini apartment building was built by the investor Mr. Nghiem Quang Minh (residing in Yen Hoa, Giay District, Hanoi) with 9 floors. Hanoi City Police have prosecuted Mr. Minh for violating regulations on fire prevention and fighting.

The Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee has established an inspection team when there were signs of violations against 3 Party organizations, including: the Standing Committee of the Thanh Xuan District Party Committee, the Thanh Xuan District Police Party Committee, and the Khuong Dinh Ward Party Committee for the 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 terms.

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