Two firms and seven people accused over the blaze that claimed 168 lives
Official investigators on Wednesday charged the contractor and the engineering consultant involved in Wang Fuk Court’s renovation work, along with seven individuals, with 25 offenses linked to the estate’s deadly fire last year.
The charges in connection with the Nov 26 blaze include manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion.
The cases were heard at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a Hong Kong Police Force statement, a joint investigation task force, set up by the city’s police force and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) after the fire that claimed 168 lives, filed the charges after thorough investigations and legal advice from the Department of Justice.
One case involves manslaughter charges against the renovation project’s engineering firm, Will Power Architects; its director, Wong Hap-yin; then-director and registered inspector, Wilson Ng Yeuk; as well as contractor Prestige Construction; and its then-director and technical director, Ho Kin-yip.
In another case, the same three individuals and their two companies, plus four others — Prestige Director Hau Wa-kin; Wong’s friend Hung Kwok-wai; Wong’s wife, Chung So-fan; and Will Power employee Li Min — face additional charges. These include conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert justice, and tax evasion.
The conspiracy to defraud charges allege that the defendants concealed and made false statements about Prestige’s litigation record over the past eight years, and also fabricated information during the tender process.
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The charge of attempting to pervert the course of public justice alleges that on the day after the fire, Hung and Wong allegedly induced or instructed Ng, as registered inspector, to backdate renovation forms and related reports for the estate.
The prosecution applied for a 12-week adjournment, citing the need for the ICAC to examine electronic records, estate documents and fund flows between more than 10 bank accounts. The investigation into money laundering and tax evasion also requires obtaining tax records.
Chief Magistrate Victor So Wai-tak granted the request, adjourning the cases until Sept 2. Two defendants, Hau and Chung, were granted bail, while the other five were remanded in custody.
Wednesday’s court documents also made public for the first time the complete list of the 168 victims of the fire, including firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who lost his life in the line of duty.
Contact the writers at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com
