Court Rejects Appeal in Kaohsiung Gas Explosions Case 高雄氣爆刑事定讞  3公務員判刑.廠商無罪

Presenter:Three government functionaries were found guilty in the second ruling of a case related to the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions. The Kaohsiung City Government said it respects the judges' decision as the case cannot be appealed, but said it is "regretful" that no companies were held accountable for the incident.

In 2014, a series of gas explosions occurred in Kaohsiung, destroying several roads and killing 32 people, and injuring another 321. Prosecutors charged a city government consultant named Chao Chien-chiao, who had worked as an engineer 21 years ago, and two other government functionaries, as well as LCY Group Chairperson Bowei Lee and eight employees. In the second trial, Chao and the two other functionaries were found guilty, but the others were acquitted. Prosecutors appealed, and the verdict was issued on Sept. 15. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal.

Chen Chi-mai, Kaohsiung City Mayor:”The judgment clarifies the responsibility for the negligence that occurred in the project 21 years ago. As for the usage and maintenance of the pipelines, no one was held accountable, and we are disappointed.”

Chao asked to resign immediately after, and his request was granted. He declined to comment. The Kaohsiung City Government said it respects the ruling, but it was disappointed that no companies were held criminally responsible.

Victim:” Companies should bear joint responsibility. There was poor supervision, right? Of course, this isn't fair. What can you say about this sentence?”

The majority of the victims of the gas explosions said they had no other choice but to accept the ruling. The city government said a civil appeal is still ongoing and it will do whatever it can to help.

三多、凱旋、一心路嚴重毀損，7年前高雄氣爆，32死、321人傷，檢方起訴21年前的擔任幫工程司的市府顧問趙建喬等3名公務員還有李長榮化工董事長李謀偉等9名業者和員工，二審趙建喬3人有罪，但業者逆轉無罪，檢方上訴後，15號結果出爐，最高分院駁回二審上訴，全案定讞。

高雄市長 陳其邁：「判決主要是針對在21年前當時在工程驗收疏失責任的釐清，管線的使用跟維護的部份，沒有人在這個部份受到追究，這個部份我們表示遺憾。」

市府顧問趙建喬第一時間就請辭獲准，尚未接電話無法取得回應，市府表示尊重這次判決，但業者不用負起任何刑事責任，感到遺憾。

高雄氣爆受災戶：「(業者應)連帶責任，督導不週嘛。對不對，當然不公平 。司法這樣已經判了這樣，你拿他能夠說什麼。」

刑事判決定讞，大部分氣爆居民都說只能接受，但市府強調還有民事訴訟審理中，會全力協助。