Three more arrests in connection with deadly fire in Vietnam
HANOI - A Vietnamese American nightclub owner, his wife, and the club manager
have been arrested and will face prosecution after 60 people died in a
deadly blaze last August, state-run media said Saturday.
Paul Nguyen, the 41 year old owner of Blue nightclub in Ho Chi Minh
City, will face charges of "lack of responsibility causing grave
consequences," Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported. Nguyen's wife, Le
Ngoc Thuy, deputy manager of the discotheque and Nguyen Trong Cuong,
the club manager have also been arrested and charged with the same
offence, the newspaper said.
If convicted, the defendants could face between seven and 12 years in
prison, according to Vietnamese law.
A total of nine people have been arrested in connection with the fire
in the downtown International Trade Centre, the newspaper reported.
The fire began on the second floor of the state-owned six floor
building, and quickly spread.
Inadequate emergency exits and a lack of rescue ladders forced some of
the victims to jump from the roof to their deaths.
The inquiry after the fire found that it had been started by three
welders working in the discotheque.
Deutsche Presse Agentur - March 01, 2003.
|