Hong Kong authorities have charged seven individuals and two companies with 25 offences, including manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion, in connection with the city’s deadliest blaze in recent history.
The defendants appeared at West Kowloon Court on Wednesday to face charges brought by police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the first to be laid against those deemed responsible for the fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in November last year.
Court documents also revealed, for the first time, the full list of the 168 people killed in the 43-hour blaze that ravaged seven of the eight blocks at the subsidised housing estate in Tai Po.
The seven individuals held various roles in the HK$336 million (US$42.9 million) renovation project at Wang Fuk Court. They include directors of project consultant Will Power Architects and main contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering.
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Prestige director Hau Wah-kin, whose name was spelled as Hau Wa-kin in court documents, was released on bail after being charged with conspiracy to defraud. His bail was set at HK$500,000.
Also granted bail was Chung So-fan, the wife of Will Power director Wong Hap-yin. She was released on HK$500,000 bail, with an additional surety of the same amount provided by her mother, pending trial on two counts of money laundering.
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Chung reportedly left the court in a prison van, however, as she failed to provide the required amounts on Wednesday.
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