Prosecution of 2 former ward vice chairmen in mini apartment fire that killed 56 people in Hanoi

The Hanoi People's Procuracy has just completed the indictment to prosecute the defendant Nghiem Quang Minh (born in 1979, residing in Yen Hoa ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi), the owner of the mini apartment building that caught fire, killing 56 people, for the crime of "Violating regulations on fire prevention and fighting".

In relation to the case, former officials of Khuong Dinh ward and former Captain of the Thanh Xuan District Construction Inspection Team were prosecuted for the crime of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences".

These defendants include: Pham Tan Anh (former Vice Chairman of the Ward People's Committee), Chu Xuan Son (former Vice Chairman of the Ward People's Committee for the period 2015-2020; at the time of prosecution, he was Chairman of the Thanh Xuan Nam Ward People's Committee); Nguyen Thi Kim Trang (former cadastral and construction officer of the ward, period 2010-2018; at the time of prosecution, he was cadastral and construction officer of Thanh Xuan Bac Ward);

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

According to the accusation, Mr. Nghiem Quang Minh is the owner of a 240m2 land plot at No. 37, Alley 29/70, Khuong Ha Street, Khuong Dinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi City.

On March 11, 2015, Mr. Minh was granted a construction permit for a single-family house on the above plot of land by the Thanh Xuan District People's Committee, with a construction area of ​​167.4 square meters on the first floor; construction density of 70%; total construction floor area of ​​1,165.9 square meters; total height of the building of 20.2 meters, including 6 floors, mezzanine and elevator shaft.

Specifically, the first floor has 2 rooms, the mezzanine has 3 rooms, floors 2 to 6 each have 5 rooms, the attic has 3 rooms, a total of 33 rooms).

From May 14, 2015 to the end of December 2015, Mr. Minh constructed and arbitrarily changed the design of the project, building 9 floors and 1 attic; exceeding 3 floors compared to the construction permit; the floor area of ​​the first floor was 240m2, exceeding 132.6m2; a total of 45 rooms (closed apartments), exceeding 12 rooms, but did not prepare design documents, review, accept, and manage fire prevention and fighting according to regulations.

The indictment stated that from October 2015 to April 2016, Mr. Minh sold 45 apartments and by the end of 2016, all 45 apartments were occupied. At the time before the fire (September 12, 2023), there were 147 residents living in the 45 apartments mentioned above.

After selling all 45 apartments to residents, Mr. Minh did not reside in the building and determined that the management and usage rights belonged to all residents.

Mr. Minh is not responsible for the residents' living and operation of the building. All motorbikes, electric motorbikes, and electric bicycles of the residents are parked on the first floor of the building, on average there are about 70 - 80 motorbikes, electric bicycles of all kinds.

From August 31, 2018 to June 12, 2020, Thanh Xuan District Police discovered many violations of fire prevention and fighting regulations at house number 37, alley 29/70, Khuong Ha street, Khuong Dinh ward and determined that this was a facility violating fire prevention and fighting regulations. If not prevented in time, it could lead to a direct risk of fire and explosion, which could cause particularly serious consequences.

At about 11:20 p.m. on September 12, 2023, the power line short-circuited in the battery area located next to the south wall of the first floor of the building, causing a fire.

The fire then spread to the electric cables, the electric meter boxes mounted on the south wall of the first floor and spread around. Although it was discovered, the fire extinguisher on the first floor of the building could not put out the fire, leading to a large fire outbreak.

Upon receiving the news of the fire, the Hanoi City Police Command Center mobilized firefighting forces to extinguish the fire and provide rescue. At around 0:15 on September 13, 2023, the fire was basically extinguished.

As a result, the fire killed 56 people, injured 44 people, and caused property damage of more than 3.2 billion VND. On September 13, 2023, Mr. Minh was temporarily detained by the investigation agency.