In April 2022, an eight-story building, housing a hotel, apartments and a cinema, collapsed in Changsha, capital of Hunan province.
Authorities had claimed the structure was built illegally, sparking public debate over corruption in China’s construction industry. CCTV, state television, reported that two courts in Changsha handed down prison sentences to officials involved in the scandal.
Prison sentences and fines
The person who had the building constructed, expanded and renovated without permission, Wu Zhiyong, considered partially responsible for the collapse, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Other convictions include a 12-year prison sentence for a former deputy director of a municipal water company, convicted of neglect of duty and corruption.
In addition to the prison sentences, a company responsible for compliance testing was fined one million yuan (129,000 euros), after several of its employees were found guilty of falsifying documents that certified that the building was sure.
Illegal construction and lack of qualifications
According to the court, Wu Zhiyong and the people who carried out the work had no construction qualifications. They had illegally rented different parts of the building to catering and accommodation companies.
“No effective corrective measures have been taken despite the discovery of major structural risks”
CCTV reported.
Corruption in the construction sector
Building collapses occur regularly in China, often attributed to lax enforcement of safety standards or corruption by officials supposed to enforce them. The Changsha case has revived criticism of these practices, already well-established in the construction sector in China.
