Trial of karaoke bar owner in fire that killed 3 firefighters

On August 7, the Hanoi People's Court opened a trial for defendant Pham Duy Hung (40 years old, residing in Hanoi) for violating fire prevention and fighting regulations, according to point a, clause 3, article 313 of the Penal Code, with a penalty of 7 - 12 years in prison.

Mr. Hung is the owner of the ISIS karaoke business (Quan Hoa Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi), where the fire occurred, killing 3 fire police officers.

Defendant Pham Duy Hung escorted to the courtroom

The indictment determined that in March 2018, defendant Pham Duy Hung bought the ISIS karaoke business at house number 231, Quan Hoa street, including 6 floors and 1 attic.

According to the business license issued by the People's Committee of Cau Giay District, this karaoke establishment was licensed to have 4 singing rooms, from the 3rd to the 6th floor. However, the defendant used 9 rooms, from the 2nd to the 6th floor of the house, to be used as singing rooms.

In February 2022, the defendant hired someone to renovate and add 2 more rooms on the 7th floor of the house using an iron frame, corrugated iron fence, corrugated iron roof, plaster ceiling, soundproofing, electrical and air conditioning systems, and decorations to serve the business. This was not reported to the local authorities.

From May 2022, the defendant began using room 702 as a karaoke room and room 701 as a warehouse.

The prosecutor accused defendant Pham Duy Hung of knowing that his karaoke bar was subject to design approval and fire safety inspection to be eligible to operate.

However, while completing the procedures to submit the application for a certificate of eligibility for security and order and for fire prevention and fighting approval, defendant Hung still allowed the bar to operate. The time for customers to sing is usually from 11am the previous day to 2am the next day.

In the early afternoon of August 1, 2022, due to an electrical short circuit on the power line inside the air conditioner unit in karaoke room 702, the insulation layer caught fire and spread around, covering the entire karaoke bar.

Upon receiving the news, Hanoi City Police dispatched many fire trucks and firefighters to the scene.

During the fire fighting and rescue process, three fire police officers Dang Anh Quan, Nguyen Dinh Phuc and Do Duc Viet were blocked by falling materials on the stairs, blocking the exit, causing all three to die.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/xet-xu-chu-quan-karaoke-trong-vu-chay-khien-3-canh-sat-pccc-hy-sinh-185230807093601056.htm