Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced today the arrest of eight individuals – seven men and one woman, aged 40 to 63 – on suspicion of corruption related to the 330 million Hong Kong dollars (over 42 million USD) renovation project at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex.
Among those arrested are two directors of a construction consulting firm, two individuals responsible for overseeing the renovation work at the complex, a married couple who served as subcontractors supplying bamboo scaffolding, and an intermediary.
ICAC officers obtained warrants to search 13 premises, including the consulting firm's offices, subcontractors' premises, and the homes of the eight individuals. Documents related to the construction project and bank records were seized. The eight are currently detained pending investigation.
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Black smoke rises from burning buildings at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong on 27/11. *AP*.
Hong Kong police previously arrested three men, aged 52 to 68, on suspicion of manslaughter. These included two directors of the construction company and a consultant for the apartment renovation project. They are suspected of selecting unsafe renovation materials and overseeing negligent construction and inspection work.
The Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, comprising about 2,000 units, caught fire around 14h51 on 26/11 and burned for approximately 40 hours. This incident is Hong Kong's deadliest fire in recent decades, destroying seven of the complex's eight buildings. As of this afternoon, at least 128 people have died, and approximately 200 remain missing.
Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang stated today that preliminary information suggests the fire originated from external safety netting on the building's lower floors. It rapidly spread upwards as foam panels ignited, affecting multiple levels. Tang added, "High temperatures also caused the bamboo scaffolding and protective netting to catch fire. The burning bamboo poles broke and fell, spreading the flames to other floors."
Thanh Tam (According to HKFP, AFP)
