HANOI: A court in Vietnam on Wednesday jailed six people including four police officers over a fire that ripped through a karaoke bar two years ago, killing 32 people.
The blaze in a province close to business hub Ho Chi Minh City shocked Vietnam and led to the closure of thousands of karaoke bars nationwide for failing to meet fire regulations.
The court in southern Binh Duong province convicted the bar owner, a contractor involved in its construction and four police officers on charges of breaching fire regulations and negligence.
Bar owner Le Anh Xuan was given eight years in jail, while the bar’s fire prevention system contractor was sentenced to five years.
Four police officers were jailed for between four and seven and half years.
In his final words before court last week, bar owner Le Anh Xuan apologized to victims and their families, saying “my mistakes had caused huge losses.”
Flames engulfed the second floor of the 30-room An Phu karaoke building in Binh Duong in September 2022, trapping customers and staff as dense smoke filled the staircase and blocked the emergency exit.
Many crowded onto a balcony to escape the flames, which spread quickly through the wooden interior, while others were forced to jump from the building.
A total of 32 people died in the inferno, 17 men and 15 women.
The police officers were charged for their involvement in designing and approving the fire prevention system at the bar.
Vietnam regularly experiences deadly fires — 56 people were killed in a Hanoi apartment disaster last year — and the Binh Duong blaze prompted a nationwide crackdown on karaoke bars that failed to comply with fire regulations.
More than two-thirds of the country’s approximately 15,000 karaoke bars were forced to close, according to state media, citing police sources.
Vietnam jails six over deadly karaoke bar blaze
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Vietnam jails six over deadly karaoke bar blaze
- The blaze in a province close to business hub Ho Chi Minh City shocked Vietnam and led to the closure of thousands of karaoke bars nationwide for failing to meet fire regulations
Australia’s ‘Bondi Hero’ handed $1.65m collected from fundraising
- Ahmed Al-Ahmed hid behind parked cars before charging at one of the gunmen from behind, seizing his weapon and knocking him to the ground
- Ahmed suffered gunshot wounds after apparently being fired on by a second perpetrator
SYDNEY: A man credited with saving lives for wrestling a gun from one of the alleged attackers during a mass shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach received a cheque for more than $2.5 million Australian dollars ($1.65 million) on Friday, after tens of thousands of people contributed to a donation website.
Ahmed Al-Ahmed hid behind parked cars before charging at one of the gunmen from behind, seizing his weapon and knocking him to the ground.
Ahmed suffered gunshot wounds after apparently being fired on by a second perpetrator and remains in hospital after undergoing surgery.
Ahmed, a Muslim father-of-two, was presented with an oversized cheque at his St. George hospital bed by Zachery Dereniowski, a social media influencer and co-organizer of the GoFundMe page, videos posted online showed.
More than 43,000 people worldwide contributed to the fundraising, including billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman who gave $99,999 Australian dollars and shared the fundraiser on his X account. Australia's prime minister and the state premier have visited Ahmed in hospital to praise his bravery.
When handed the cheque, Ahmed asks, “I deserve it?" to which Dereniowski says "every penny", the video shows.
When asked what he would say to the people who donated, Ahmed said: "To stand with each other, all human beings. And forget everything bad ... and keep going to save life."
He continued, raising his uninjured fist in the air: “When I saved the people I (did it) from the heart because it was a nice day, everyone enjoying celebrating, with their kids, women, men, teenager all, everyone was happy and they deserve, they deserve to enjoy,” , .
“This country (is the) best country in the world, best country in the world, but we’re not going to stand and keep watching – enough is enough. God protect Australia. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.” The tobacco store owner did not say what he planned to do with the money.
Ahmed, 43, left his hometown in Syria's northwest province of Idlib nearly 20 years ago to seek work in Australia.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded on Sunday after two gunmen opened fire at people celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights at the famous beach.
Authorities allege a 50-year-old father, who was shot dead by police, and his 24-year-old son, who was critically wounded, carried out the attack.
