By love-89.com On October 17, the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court, along with the Ningxiang People’s Court, announced the first-instance verdict in the serious case concerning the collapse of a self-built residential building in Changsha on April 29, 2022. The court sentenced 15 defendants to varying prison terms ranging from two years and nine months to twelve years, with the owner of the building, Wu Zhiyong, receiving an eleven-year sentence.
The incident involved the collapse of Wu Zhiyong’s residential property in the Pan Shuwan village of Jinping Community, Wangcheng District. The collapse, attributed to illegal construction and renovation practices, tragically resulted in the deaths of 54 individuals and left nine others injured, alongside significant economic losses.
Court proceedings revealed that Wu Zhiyong authorized unqualified personnel, Long Tiankai, to design the building and illegally hired unlicensed contractors, Ren Luosheng and Xue Xianzhong, to construct unauthorized additions. Despite awareness of serious safety hazards and strong indications of imminent collapse, he failed to implement necessary corrective actions or emergency evacuation measures, leading to catastrophic consequences.
Wu Zhiyong was also implicated in multiple cases of willful destruction of others’ property. Additionally, the Hunan Xiangda Engineering Testing Company, along with its shareholders Tan Hua, Yang Shuangfu, Ning Tao, Gong Biao, and two other staff members, Liu Deng and Tang Se, provided false certification documents. The court also found that several officials, including Zhou Zhengmao, the former vice district chief, and Leng Jingke, the former captain of the Jinshanqiao law enforcement team, neglectfully fulfilled their duties and were involved in bribery.
In light of the facts, the court sentenced Wu Zhiyong to eleven years in prison for causing a major responsibility accident and for disturbing public order. Long Tiankai, Ren Luosheng, and Xue Xianzhong received sentences of six years and six months to six years for their roles in the accident. The Hunan Xiangda Engineering Testing Company was fined one million yuan, while Tan Hua and five other defendants received prison terms ranging from two years and nine months to four years and nine months, including fines and lifetime occupational bans. Zhou Zhengmao was sentenced to twelve years in prison for dereliction of duty and bribery, and four other defendants received sentences between three years and nine months to five years and six months for their negligence.
Throughout the trial process, the court ensured that the defendants’ rights were upheld. Various representatives, including members of the People’s Congress and the Political Consultative Conference, along with some victims and defendants’ relatives, attended the verdict announcement.