Hong Kong subcontractor charged with manslaughter over death of 2 workers trapped underground for 12 hours in gas-filled tube
- Man, 62, initially arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of breaching Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance
- Police say he was arrested again on Thursday after further investigations and temporarily charged with manslaughter
Hong Kong police have charged a 62-year-old subcontractor with manslaughter in connection with the death of two workers who were trapped for hours in a toxic gas-filled tube at an underground site last weekend.
The man, surnamed Sum, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of breaching the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
Police said that after further investigations Sum was again arrested on Thursday and temporarily charged with one count of manslaughter. The case will be heard on Friday morning at Kowloon City Court.
A source said a 40-year-old project manager of the main contractor who had earlier helped with the investigation was also arrested and charged with manslaughter. However, the insider said the manager’s case would not be heard in court on Friday.
The two workers, aged 61 and 63, died on Sunday after being trapped in the underground tube for more than 12 hours at a construction site managed by the MTR Corporation at 1 Austin Road West in the West Kowloon Cultural District.